In Luke Cook's impassioned TikTok video, the actor broke down what his salary looks like for fans who are skeptical of the actors' strike. "I get paid per episode, which is two weeks of work, $7,500. Then it is taxed and a manager takes 10 percent, an agent takes 10 percent, and a lawyer takes 5 percent," he said. "I am one line below a series regular who is maybe making $100,000, sometimes, per episode."
Cook, who is also known for roles in "Katy Keene" and "Dynasty," was forthcoming about how actors are often exploited once the cameras are off, both in terms of streaming residuals and in marketing. He admitted that he was on a billboard on Sunset Boulevard advertising the Hulu series "Dollface," in which he had a recurring role. "Do you know how much they paid me to be on the billboard? Zero," he said.
Indeed, actors, as well as WGA members, have been coming forward to shed light on the reality of their financial precarity. The majority of SAG members, for instance, don't qualify for the union's health insurance plan, which requires a minimum salary of $26,470.
"This discussion isn't about millionaires," Cook summarized. "As someone who always has a side job, I think it would be great to get paid better money to be on your favorite shows... I shouldn't have to have two side jobs just in order to survive."
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. To learn more about why writers and actors are currently on strike, click here for an up-to-date explainer from our Looper team.
