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Last Updated: Thursday, 14 August, 2003, 10:29 GMT 11:29 UK
'Pay row' at Raymond sitcom
Brad Garrett
Garrett recently provided the voice to a character in Finding Nemo
Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett is asking for more money to continue with the sitcom, but the show's producers are refusing to give in to his demands.

Garrett has reportedly refused to return to work until CBS agree to discuss a pay rise.

Garrett plays Robert Barone in the hit sitcom, the brother of the show's star Ray, played by Ray Romano.

Romano recently became the highest paid comedy actor on TV after securing a deal earning him $1.8m (£1.2m) per episode.

Garrett, who won a best-supporting Emmy Award in 2002, is thought to be on a considerably less $166,000 (£103,000) per episode deal, and wants wages equivalent to those of supporting actors on sitcoms such as Will & Grace.

Garrett's manager, Doug Wald, told the Hollywood Reporter: "We've been trying to talk to (CBS) for many months about this.

"They've been non-responsive. We're just looking for an appropriate deal."

Walk away

CBS has retaliated in a statement saying: "Brad Garrett is an enormously talented actor whom we hold in the highest regard.

"It's unfortunate that he is not honouring his contract."

CBS said it had twice renegotiated Garrett's contract in the past four years and that he had been signed up until season eight, which hits US screens in September.

Daily Variety quoted Garrett's representatives saying: "If we don't come to a fair deal, we feel comfortable walking away."

Filming on Everybody Loves Raymond, which was due to start this week, has been postponed because co-star Patricia Heaton has been sick.

The sitcom is the second highest rated comedy in the US behind Friends.




SEE ALSO:
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12 May 03  |  TV and Radio


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