How much do "dead" actors make?

[Blalron]

Let me explain what I mean.

Episodes of Law & Order (and I imagine other crime dramas) frequently begin with a shot of a dead murder victim. Assuming these are real actors pretending to be corpses and not wax statues, what do they typically pay someone for this (brief) acting role?

[friedo]

Since they don't have any lines, I believe they would be paid as extras. (Meaning like $40 for the whole day.)

The real breakthrough is to get one of the two-line jobbers in the cold-open. Then you get union scale.

[Ponderoid]

In many of those crime dramas, sets will be dressed with pictures of the victim from before their death. Do they get paid extra for those? They would have had to change costume and get photographed, possibly multiple times depending on how elaborate the set dressing is.

[11811]

OIn many of those crime dramas, sets will be dressed with pictures of the victim from before their death. Do they get paid extra for those? They would have had to change costume and get photographed, possibly multiple times depending on how elaborate the set dressing is.

I think with enough headshots of the actor playing the victim, they can photoshop him or her into the photos you're referring to.

[Shagnasty]

Here is your answer. It is at $139 a day with the possibility for more.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/playing_a_corpse_on_tv.html

[Silver Tyger]

O

I think with enough headshots of the actor playing the victim, they can photoshop him or her into the photos you're referring to.

Depending on how much they pay the graphics people it may be cheaper just to take the photos...