For years FRIENDS have continued to dominate TV and online streaming platforms thanks to the immense viewership it continues to enjoy even a decade after its end. Apart from the original six actors, Paul Rudd’s Mike Hannigan remains one of the most fan-favorite characters of the hit sitcom.
Despite being in over 16 episodes of the show and his co-stars still making millions in residuals, Rudd revealed that he was not being given any royalties from FRIENDS. This is a shocking revelation seeing that his co-stars still get about $20 million in residuals every year.
Paul Rudd Gets Nothing From FRIENDS In Residuals
Paul Rudd was the last to join the cast of FRIENDS in 2002. Despite only being in 16 episodes, his character’s popularity skyrocketed thanks to his chemistry with Phoebe Buffay. Furthermore, his sincerity and humor were an added quirk that made him popular among the many fans of the show.
Even after all these years, the show continues to enjoy a rising popularity, getting hundreds of viewers each day across different platforms. While the rest of the FRIENDS cast continue to enjoy and earn millions in residuals every year, Rudd reveals that he had not been paid anything.
In his WIRED’s The Web’s Most Searched Questions, Rudd was asked ‘Does Paul Rudd get royalties from FRIENDS‘, he replied,
“I don’t believe that I do. I don’t think I did, I don’t think I did.”
He then went on to tell an interesting story about a bar in Los Angeles which was named Residuals, where if an actor was to take a cheque he had received in ‘residuals’ and it amounted to less than a dollar, their check would be pinned on a wall and they’ll be given a beer for free.
Paul Rudd Once Felt He Didn’t Deserve To Be In FRIENDS
Paul Rudd was in the show for very little time while his co-stars had been part of the show for over a decade. So when it came to shooting the last episode, it was obvious that the cast was feeling extremely emotional about saying goodbye to it.
In an interview with Heart Breakfast, the actor stated,
“I came really near the end. I never knew I was going to be in as many as I was… I was in that last episode and I thought ‘I shouldn’t be here, I’m getting a front-row seat to things I’m not supposed to see’. They were all crying, it was all emotional. I felt very privileged but I was like ‘Oh I just want to sit back here and not get in the way’.”
Rudd certainly would have felt a bit out of place, but fans love him and his character nonetheless and have expressed gratitude to have him be a part of the show.
FRIENDS can be streamed on Max.
