‘House’ star gets huge raise
Sources: Hugh Laurie now making $300K an episode

Thursday, July 13, 2006; Posted: 8:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) — “House” star Hugh Laurie is joining the ranks of the top drama actors on television.

After a two-month renegotiation, the British actor will earn about $300,000 per episode when the hot medical drama begins its third season on Fox, sources said.

That is a dramatic increase from Laurie’s starting pay, which is said to have been in the mid-five figures.

The renegotiation also adds an additional year to the actor’s current contract for “House.” Ths show already is in production on its third season.

Laurie’s performance as the brutally honest and brilliant Dr. Gregory House has been key to the success of the medical drama, which has emerged as a blockbuster hit for Fox.

The role earned the actor a Golden Globe this year, but he failed to score an Emmy nod when nominations were unveiled earlier this month.

Fox and the show’s producer, NBC Universal Network TV, declined comment Wednesday.