Holland Taylor Says ‘Two and a Half Men’ Never Raised Her Pay

WHO:

Deadline - Holland Taylor, who played Evelyn Harper, the mother of Charlie and Alan on *Two and a Half Men*.

Variety - Holland Taylor; Charlie Sheen, who played Charlie; and Jon Cryer, who played Alan.

WHAT:

Deadline - Taylor let her *Two and a Half Men* contract lapse after Season 6.

Variety - Taylor said she was “never paid very well” on the CBS sitcom and that, despite receiving four Emmy nominations, “They never gave me a raise.”

Variety - Taylor said her pay was part of the reason she did not renew her contract.

WHEN:

Deadline - Taylor’s contract lapsed after Season 6; the article says Sheen’s public meltdown and split from the show occurred at the time.

WHY:

Deadline - Taylor let her contract lapse for reasons different from Sheen’s public meltdown and split.

Variety - Taylor cited her pay and the absence of a raise as part of why she did not renew her contract.

HOW:

Deadline - Sheen was reported to have earned $1.8 million per episode, described as one of the highest-paid sitcom stars.

Variety - Taylor spent six years playing Evelyn Harper on the sitcom.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 03:13 UTC)

Holland Taylor says pay was a key reason she left *Two and a Half Men*, where she played Evelyn Harper, the mother of Charlie and Alan. Taylor spent six years on the CBS sitcom before letting her contract lapse after Season 6. She said she was “never paid very well” and, despite earning four Emmy nominations, “They never gave me a raise.” Taylor described her pay and the lack of a raise as part of why she chose not to renew her contract. Her departure came around the time Charlie Sheen had a public meltdown and split from the show, but Taylor’s reasons were different from his. Sheen, who played Charlie, was reportedly earning $1.8 million per episode, making him one of television’s highest-paid sitcom stars. Jon Cryer played Alan, Taylor’s other on-screen son.