Danny Pintauro is offering a revealing look at the economics of classic television, explaining that some residual checks from Who’s the Boss? can be worth less than the cost of mailing them.
The former child star discussed his residual income during a recent appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, pointing to the limitations of contracts written long before streaming became a major part of the entertainment business.
Old contracts meet the streaming era
Pintauro explained that contracts from the 1980s did not anticipate modern streaming services — or even fully account for home-video technology. As a result, repeated streaming availability does not necessarily translate into large payments for performers from that era.
He said that when all eight seasons of Who’s the Boss? are licensed by a network or streaming platform, he receives roughly $4,000, something he estimated happens once or twice a year at most.
Cujo now generates more checks
Pintauro also said he has recently received more residual checks from his 1983 horror movie Cujo than from the sitcom that made him widely recognizable.
His comments add to the ongoing industry discussion about how performers are compensated when older television and film libraries find new audiences on streaming platforms.
Source: PEOPLE, October 12, 2026.