Danny Pintauro, best known for playing Jonathan Bower on the hit sitcom Who's the Boss?, has opened up about the financial realities of being a working actor, revealing that he now works as an Amazon delivery driver to make ends meet in Los Angeles.
A Star's Side Hustle
The 50-year-old actor, who rose to fame as a child star in the 1980s, told Entertainment Tonight that he was surprised when a photo of himself delivering packages for Amazon went viral on Instagram. He explained that many people assume actors are financially set for life, but that is far from the truth for most performers.
"Unless you're in the top one percent of actors, we're just as poor as the rest of you," Pintauro said. He noted that the instability of acting led him to pursue side jobs, including driving for Amazon and running a booth at a fair in Long Beach, California, where he sells handmade book nooks under his shop, Wandering Book Nook.
Residuals and Reality
Pintauro shared that when Amazon acquired the streaming rights to all eight seasons of Who's the Boss? last year, he received a check for only $4,000. "I definitely make more money working for Amazon than I do selling the show to Amazon," he said. He explained that residuals from the 1980s are minimal due to outdated contracts that did not account for modern distribution methods like DVD compilations or extensive syndication.
"Season one has been purchased so many times that I'm getting five to six cents per episode, and they can air it as many times as they want," he said. Despite the challenges, Pintauro continues to act in small TV and film roles while balancing his side jobs.
Challenges of Delivery Work
In a previous interview with Yahoo, Pintauro described delivering packages to apartments as "the worst" due to difficulties finding the correct entrance or mailroom. He admitted to occasionally delivering to the wrong place, which can result in being docked pay or losing access to better shifts.
Pintauro's story highlights the broader issue of financial insecurity faced by many actors, even those with recognizable faces from beloved shows. He hopes his experience will help dispel the myth that fame equals wealth.
