Batman residuals were a lifesaver for Alan Napier, the show's Alfred

The checks hit at just the right time!

Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution

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.

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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."