How Residuals Are Earned
Residuals are additional payments actors receive when their work is reused. This includes when a TV show is rerun on the same network, sold to another network in syndication, streamed on services like Netflix or Hulu, or broadcast internationally. The actor's contract determines whether they qualify for residuals and under what conditions.
Who Receives Residuals
Not all television actors automatically receive residuals. Typically, union actors represented by SAG-AFTRA receive residuals according to negotiated union agreements. Lead actors, supporting actors, and even background actors may qualify depending on their contract and role. Non-union actors or those working on non-union productions usually do not receive residuals unless negotiated individually.
How Much Actors Earn
Residual payments are usually much smaller than the original salary. The amount depends on several factors: the actor's original pay, the size of their role, how many times the show airs, what medium it airs on, and the time period since original broadcast. A supporting actor might earn fifty to several hundred dollars per residual payment, while lead actors typically earn more.
Payment Process
Production companies track when shows are aired or reused and report this information to payment agencies. These agencies calculate what is owed based on union contracts and send payments directly to actors or their representatives. Payments are usually made monthly or quarterly, about 30-60 days after the content is used.
Modern Changes
Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon have changed how residuals work. Negotiations between studios and unions continue to establish fair payment rates for streaming content. Some actors have received significantly lower residuals for streaming than for traditional television, which has been a point of conflict in recent labor disputes. 
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