# Paychecks for dead actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paychecks-for-dead-actors/61493 "2001-04-10T18:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![heembo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@heembo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heembo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paychecks-for-dead-actors/61493/1 "2001-04-10T18:12:27Z")
When an actor dies, who gets their residuals? For example, every time the movie “Animal House” is aired on TV, who gets John Bellushi’s money? Is it split evenly among those recieving a residual from the project, does one person or entity start gobbling up the money, or does the residual cease to exist? Is it cheaper for a company to air a movie with all dead actors? What up? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paychecks-for-dead-actors/61493/2 "2001-04-10T18:53:46Z")
I’d think that this works the same as any other asset when the owner dies. If Frank Smith owns stock, the stock doesn’t go to other stockholders when he dies, it would go to his beneficiary’s. Of course, not all performers in a movie/tv show are eligible for royalties, I believe some work for a specific fee. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paychecks-for-dead-actors/61493/3 "2001-04-11T00:45:06Z")
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