What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

Ever wonder about the amount of struggling movie actors there are vs. the amount of actors that are actually making a consistent living?

Seeing the stats of people in law school vs. practicing lawyers got me wondering what the stats of struggling actors vs. actors who actually make it are....


Of course the A-listers would always get work, like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, etc.
Or a good character actor like Robert Loggia, M. Emmett Walsh, Chris Cooper, etc. would get consistent work....


It's a tough business!

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

I did hear on NPR the other day that 9 out of 10 extras (who get non speaking roles in movies/TV shows hoping for more) hang it up after the first year. Not sure of statistics beyond that, but that eliminates a huge chunk of people hoping to break in right off the top.

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

I once heard that 90% of the SAG is out of work at any given time. Don't know the veracity of those numbers though. :shrug:

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

Well theres always porn is mainstream doesnt work out.

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

Keep in mind that most of "employed" members of SAG often keep employed due to commercials and voice over work. Very few make an actual living from it, and even then it's hardly a comfortable one.

Or go back to school. Education is fundamental, kids.

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

I think it's around 6.47%, but this number could have changed since April.

Re: What percentage of actors actually make it in this business?
 

I was watching an old episode of $100,000 Pyramid where the late actor David Graf (Tackleberry from "Police Academy") said he tried getting on game shows as a struggling actor to help make ends meet.