I was the highest paid child actor on TV – but I quit Hollywood for a completely different life
TWO and a half men star Angus T. Jones revealed the real reason why he chose to leave the acting industry.
Angus, 30, looks unrecognisable after playing Jake Harper on the CBS sitcom, before quitting the role in 2013.
The child actor made his acting debut at age of five and has starred in a whopping 226 episodes.
He has won Young Artist Awards and became the highest paid child actor earning around $300,000 (£236,310) per episode.
Despite his success, Angus decided to quit acting and focus on his education as he attended the University of Colorado.
Talking about his departure, he told the American news station KHOU that he felt like a “hypocrite” for starring in a show which made fun of real life problems.
He said: “It was making light of topics in our world that are really problems for a lot of people.
“I was a paid hypocrite because I wasn’t OK with it, but I was still doing it.”
He would go on speak out against his role on Two and a Half Men in religious videos, encouraging fans not to watch the show and branding the series as “filth”.
However, after receiving a backlash, he told US weekly that he had “the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and a Half Men” and that it was never his intention to show “indifference” or “disrespect” to his former colleagues.
He added: “I apologise if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed.”
After years off screen, Angus made a brief return to showbiz as he guest starred in Bookie in 2023, reuniting with his former co-star Charlie Sheen.
Angus is now living out of the spotlight with his $20million fortune.
The American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn and originally aired on CBS from 22nd September 2003, to 19th February 2015, with a total of twelve seasons consisting of 262 episodes.
It original starred Charlie Sheen in the lead role, alongside Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones.
However, Ashton Kutcher was hired to replace him in season 9 as Walden Schmidt, a billionaire who buys Charlie’s house after his death.
Two and a Half Men Fact File
Charlie Harper's life turns upside down after his divorcee brother Alan moves in with him. Completely opposite to each other, the brothers' love-hate relationship survives all trials and tribulations.
Writers: Ashton Kutcher, Chuck Lorre, Lee Aronsohn, Bill Prady.
Genre: American Sitcom
Network: CBS
Opening theme: “Manly Men”
Release: 22nd September 2003 – 19th February 2015
Created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn
Seasons: 12
Episodes: 262
Originally starring: Charlie Sheen in the lead role, alongside Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones
Charlie Sheen: Warner Bros Television decided to end production for the rest of the eighth season after Sheen entered drug rehabilitation and made “disparaging” comments about the series’ creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre.
Sheen’s contract was terminated the following month and he was written out of the show after it was confirmed that he would not be returning to the series.
Ashton Kutcher was hired to replace him for season 9 as Walden Schmidt, a billionaire who buys Charlie’s house after his death.
This was because Charlie entered drug rehabilitation and made “disparaging” comments about the series’ creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre.
His contract was terminated the following month and he was written out of the show, after it was confirmed that he would not be returning to the series.