"They were not full of courtesies": Holland Taylor reveals why she left the contract for Two and a Half Men

Holland Taylor has revealed why she chose not to renew her contract for Two and a Half Men after six years, citing her pay and the treatment she received despite earning four Emmy nominations.

In an interview on Alchemy with Anthony Mason, published on October 21, 2026, the actor said she had not received a raise for her work on the CBS sitcom. She said,

“They never paid me very well on that show. I was paid on that show what I had made on a series like like eight years before or something. I got four Emmy nominations and they never gave me raise. They usually do, just as a courtesy. I loved a lot about that show, but they were not full of courtesies.”

As reported by E! News on October 24, 2026, Holland Taylor played Evelyn Harper, the mother of Charlie Sheen’s Charlie Harper and Jon Cryer’s Alan Harper. Rather than remain under contract, she opted to return for occasional guest appearances, giving her more control over when she worked on the series.

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Holland Taylor Was Nominated for 4 Emmys for Two and a Half Men, but Claims She Ended Her Contract When She Didn’t Get a Raise

Holland Taylor says she received no raise despite four Emmy nominations

E! News reported that Holland Taylor decided to leave her Two and a Half Men contract when its six-year term ended. The actor said she had not been paid well during her time on the show and that her salary remained at a level comparable to what she had earned on a series roughly eight years earlier.

Taylor received four Emmy nominations for playing Evelyn Harper, but said the recognition did not lead to a pay increase.

“And I got four Emmy nominations and they never gave me a raise. They usually do."

When the contract ended, Taylor told the production team she did not want to renew it but would consider returning as a guest star. According to E! News, the producers were surprised by her decision and initially believed she was negotiating for a higher salary.

Taylor recalled that the team told her,

“We can’t pay you any more money.”

She responded that they could pay her much more but that she did not want to remain under contract. She said she was comfortable returning occasionally instead.

The decision allowed Holland Taylor to accept appearances when she wanted rather than commit to a continuing contract. She also noted that she played the boys’ mother, a role that left room for her to return without remaining a regular cast member.

Holland Taylor on her relationship with Sarah Paulson

Holland Taylor’s comments about her television career come amid recent coverage of her long-term relationship with actress Sarah Paulson. Page Six reported on October 20, 2026, that the couple, who have been together since 2015, continue to maintain separate homes because their careers and travel schedules frequently keep them apart.

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Why Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson still don’t live together after 11 years of dating

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During an October 20 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Holland Taylor explained that they spend as much time together as their work and locations allow. She has an apartment in New York City where Paulson stays when she is there. In Los Angeles, the two have separate houses, although Taylor said Paulson had been staying at her home while waiting to move into a new property.

The couple first met at a party in 2005 and began dating in 2015, according to Page Six. Sarah Paulson has previously spoken about the benefits of living separately, describing the arrangement as one that allows them to spend time together while maintaining their independence.

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