Guest-Star Salaries

In the interview with Eric Braeden (“From a ‘Rat’ to Playing ‘Young and Restless,’ ” April 18), Braeden refers to the early 1970s when “a studio . . . lowered its guest-star salaries by two-thirds (and) agents cowardly acquiesced, and nothing was done about it.”

Braeden should not be blaming agents for this one. Does he seriously think that agents would “acquiesce” in having their commissions reduced by two-thirds?

Years ago, the studios realized that the overwhelming majority of actors struggled to make a living. With many actors competing for each job on every level, the higher-paying guest-star salaries could be greatly lowered. The market was (and remains) strongly to the advantage of the buyer--and the studios continue to take advantage of this fact.

It seems very easy for Braeden, with his many years of contractual employment, to turn down guest-star work and to cavalierly blame “cowardly agents,” but it is not fair. And, in recent years, studios have moved to cut costs further by filming more and more productions on location in Canada and right-to-work states, further reducing salaries paid to actors.

I hope Braeden doesn’t blame the agents for this one too.

ERIC KLASS

Belson & Klass Associates

Talent Agency

Beverly Hills