Laurie 'highest paid actor in US TV drama'

Hugh Laurie is the highest paid actor in a US television drama, according to a survey published today.

The British star, who made his name in the United States as the grumpy but brilliant doctor in 'House', earns $400,000 per episode, according to the US magazine TV Guide which broke down the salaries of top stars in various categories, including comedy drama and reality TV.

Laurie, who first appeared on television with Stephen Fry as part of the comic duo 'Fry and Laurie', also went on to star in 'Blackadder'.

He recently announced he was recording a New Orleans blues album which will be released later this year.

But Laurie still has a long way to go to catch up with the top earners in Hollywood – according to the same survey Charlie Sheen is paid $1.25m for each episode of the comedy series 'Two and a Half Men'.

TV Guide magazine’s list of highest-earning US TV stars:

Drama (per episode):

1. Hugh Laurie (‘House’) $400,000+

2. Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay (‘Law & Order: SVU’) $395,000 (each)

=3. David Caruso (‘CSI: Miami’) $375,000

=3. Marg Helgenberger (‘CSI’) $375,000

=3. Mark Harmon (‘NCIS’) $375,000

=4. Laurence Fishburne (‘CSI’) $350,000

=4. Kyra Sedgwick (‘The Closer’) $350,000

=4. Denis Leary (‘Rescue Me’) $350,000

5. Gary Sinise (‘CSI: NY’) $275,000

Comedy (per episode):

1. Charlie Sheen (‘Two and a Half Men’) $1.25 million

2. Jon Cryer (‘Two and a Half Men’) $550,000

=3. Marcia Cross (‘Desperate Housewives’) $400,000

=3. Teri Hatcher (‘Desperate Housewives’) $400,000

=3. Felicity Huffman (‘Desperate Housewives’) $400,000

=3. Eva Longoria Parker (‘Desperate Housewives’) $400,000

=3. Dan Castellaneta (‘The Simpsons’) $400,000

=3. Julie Kavner (‘The Simpsons’) $400,000

=4. Tina Fey (‘30 Rock’) $350,000

=4. Jeremy Piven (‘Entourage’) $350,000

5. Steve Carell (‘The Office’) $297,000