Charlie Sheen is the highest paid actor on television

Controversial figure: Charlie Sheen is never far from the spot-light
11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Charlie Sheen has been named the highest-paid actor on television, despite being fired from 'Two and a Half Men'.

The actor lost his role as Charlie Harper in the sitcom in March after a huge fall-out with co-creator Chuck Lorre, but still topped the list compiled by Forbes.com who estimates he earned $40 million from syndication and pay owed between May 2010 and May 2011.

Sheen also filed a lawsuit with Lorre and the show's makers, Warner Brothers, over his dismissal, but this was settled out of court.

Although the sum of the settlement has not been made public, it has widely been reported to be a $100 million deal, starting with a $25 million lump sum payment to Sheen.

The 46-year-old star is now working on a new show based around Adam Sandler's film 'Anger Management' about an athlete-turned counsellor - originally played by Jack Nicholson in the movie - who enrages his patients more than calming them down.

Speaking of the series, Sheen said: "I chose 'Anger Management' because, while it might be a big stretch for me to play a guy with serious anger management issues, I think it is a great concept."

Behind Sheen on the Forbes list is Ray Romano, who banked $20 million for his new show 'Men of a Certain Age', which has now been axed.

In third place is Steve Carell, for his performance as lead character Michael Scott in 'The Office', which netted him $15 million, but is a role he has left to concentrate on his film career.

'NCIS' star Mark Harmon came fourth with earnings of $13 million followed by Charlie's former co-star Jon Cryer and ex-'CSI' actor Laurence Fishburne who tied in fifth with $11 million each.

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