Andrew Keegan Reveals The Hilarious Reality Of Residual Checks From His 90S Acting Days

Andrew Keegan's Residual Checks: A Blast from the Past

Former teen icon Andrew Keegan recently spilled the beans on the comically small residual checks he receives for his memorable roles from the 90s and 2000s. Keegan, who made a name for himself in films and TV shows beloved by a generation, shared his experiences on "The McBride Rewind" podcast. The actor found humor in the rather insignificant sums he still gets in the mail for his past performances.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Keegan chuckled as he recounted the arrival of residual checks for as little as one cent. "I'll get – different shows, obviously – I'll get one-cent checks. It costs, like, 40 cents to send!" he quipped. Despite the laughable amounts, he noted that these checks are a quirky reminder of his early career. Keegan admitted that he rarely checks which projects the payments are from when the amounts are so minuscule, though he mentioned that his role in 10 Things I Hate About You still brings in the largest sums.

"Residuals are like little love notes from your past work," Keegan joked, highlighting the amusing side of these payments.

From Teen Heartthrob to Still-Working Actor

Andrew Keegan is perhaps best known for portraying the charmingly clueless jock Joey Donner in the 1999 hit, 10 Things I Hate About You, alongside stars like Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. However, his teen heartthrob status was further bolstered by roles in popular series such as Full House, Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and 7th Heaven. Despite the nostalgia attached to these roles, Keegan is still actively pursuing his craft, with recent credits including the 2025 film Healing Towers and several upcoming projects listed on his IMDb page.

The Curious Case of Hollywood Residuals

Residuals have long been a topic of intrigue for those outside the film industry, as stars occasionally reveal the unexpected scale of their earnings – or lack thereof. Andrew Keegan's lighthearted take is just one example, with other actors like Jake Johnson and Billy Porter also sharing stories of paltry payouts from well-known shows. Meanwhile, on the opposite end, some TV icons like Ray Romano and the Friends cast continue to earn substantial amounts from syndication and reruns.

According to SAG-AFTRA, residuals are additional earnings for performers when their work is reused beyond the initial compensation, whether through reruns, video/DVD sales, or various broadcast and streaming platforms. For Andrew Keegan, these checks might be a funny footnote, but for others, they can be a significant part of their income.