Batman residuals were a lifesaver for Alan Napier, the show's Alfred
The checks hit at just the right time!
Ah, those golden years. Whether you're in them or still have them to look forward to, you know that nothing can beat those halcyon days when your life's work has been done. Now, it's time to enjoy. Oh, and by the way, you have to save up your whole life to make sure you can relax in your old age. As if keeping food on the table your whole life isn't enough of a pain, you'll also have to ensure there's plenty of money left for when you stop working.
For a lot of actors, there aren't too many plans in place. Sure, while they're working actors are protected by their unions. Lots of great programs are in place to provide medical coverage and even basic income when the industry isn't thriving. While there are a few similar services for actors who have retired, some have to rely on what they've already made.
Luckily, there are also— or were also— residuals for actors to depend on. These are the profits that studios share with the actors who made TV shows, and for the most part, they're an absolutely bygone practice. But, back when they were still a consideration, a residual check could help someone stay afloat during times of strife.

For Alan Napier, most famous as Alfred in Batman, the show's residual checks helped him keep a roof over his head in his old age. A 1975 interview with the San Luis Obispo Tribune included lots of details, the most interesting of which were about how Batman helped Napier long after the show ended.
"Your readers would know me best from the Batman series with Adam West," Napier told the Tribune.
"When I turned 65, it was Social Security and Batman."
In his semi-retirement, Napier spent his days with his dog, a poo-huahua (which is a mix between a cockapoo and a chihuahua). The dog's name was Tippi.
"She's named after the actress Tippi Hedren," said Napier, "and she suffers from old age and constipation."




















20 Comments

Yep, its tough going for a lot of actors. In the mid-90s my brother in law had to pick up a construction helper at his cheesy apartment building in a pretty run down part of L.A. He knocked on the door and the door one apartment over creaked open ... it was Huntz Hall from The Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids. He said he was ancient but smiled that smile and said "Oops, sorry!" and closed the door. He was shocked.
I can remember as a little kid, when I was living in Wausau, Wisconsin (about 30,000 people then), I met Ted Cassidy ("Lurch" from The Addams Family).
Residuals could help a lot.
But not always. There's a story that Barbara Eden signed away her rights to "I Dream of Jeannie" reruns for $5,000. Apparently she didn't think anyone would watch.
Anyway, Alan Napier had a pretty long career, appearing in serious and not-so-serious movies. (Check out IMDB for a filmography.)
Even Wikipedia goes into more detail about his life and career... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Napier
The only time they make an exception is when a notable personality passes away...
The media only focuses on "big" personalities. Gene Hackman - yes... lesser-known supporting players - no...