Hollywood loves a success story, but Colton Little knows that real life doesn’t always come with a season finale or a guaranteed renewal. The struggling actor gets discovered, lands the big role, and suddenly the rent is paid and the career is thriving. Unfortunately, the reality of chasing that Hollywood dream can be a lot less glamorous.
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Colton Little knows that better than most. The Days of Our Lives actor, who plays Andrew Donovan on the Peacock soap, recently shared a brutally honest look at what happens when the acting dream starts costing more than it pays. His latest Instagram video isn’t about landing another role or celebrating a career milestone. It’s about potentially losing his SAG-AFTRA membership because he can’t afford approximately $2,000 in outstanding dues.
For an industry that regularly sells aspiration, it’s an uncomfortable reminder that having acting credits doesn’t necessarily mean having financial security.
Colton Little Is Getting Real About Hollywood’s Struggle
Little’s video begins with a twist on the familiar Get Ready With Me format. Instead of preparing for a glamorous premiere or an audition, he’s getting ready to face the possibility of losing his union membership.
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“Get ready with me to get kicked out of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union,” he begins.
“If you’re new here, I’m an actor, and I’ve been acting professionally for about 15 years.”
That’s a considerable amount of time spent pursuing a career that many people would consider the ultimate Hollywood dream. Little has appeared in films, guest-starred on television and played a recurring character on a major TV show for four years.
But apparently, even a résumé with recognizable credits doesn’t guarantee that the next paycheck is coming.
“I’ve been a recurring character on a major TV show for the last four [years],” Little continued. “I’ve done a handful of movies and costar spots and guest star spots on other shows, and SAG is kicking out hundreds of members today because the union charges actors dues that are based on how much you earn acting.”
The irony is difficult to miss. An actor can spend years working professionally, yet still find himself struggling to afford the costs associated with remaining part of the industry.
The Hollywood Dream Has an Expiration Date on Its Bills
Little says the current entertainment landscape has become particularly difficult for working-class actors in Los Angeles.
“Right now, I owe about $2,000. And as a working-class actor in LA after COVID and two strikes and now the imminent threat of AI replacing everybody’s jobs, there are no auditions. There are no parts. There is nothing filming in L.A. It’s really bleak,” he said.
The combination of pandemic-related disruption, industry strikes and concerns about artificial intelligence has left performers confronting an uncertain future.
And while Hollywood continues to churn out entertainment, the people trying to make that entertainment aren’t necessarily finding consistent employment.
There’s a particular kind of frustration in being qualified for a job that simply isn’t available. You can have the experience, the talent and the professional connections, but none of those things can pay the bills when the phone stops ringing.
Little also revealed that he’s had conversations with other actors who are struggling to admit that their ambitions might need a temporary pause.
“And I’ve had so many conversations recently where people are afraid or ashamed to admit that maybe this dream needs to take a pause. Maybe we all need to touch grass a little bit.
“And after a lot of introspection, I’ve just decided to pull back. I’ve decided not to pay my dues. And it does feel like a huge betrayal to myself and to this dream that I’ve poured so much into, but unless the right opportunity comes along, I’m going to prioritize myself for now, and I encourage you to do the same,” he explained.
For Little, stepping away isn’t necessarily an admission of defeat. It’s a recognition that sometimes the dream needs to accommodate the person pursuing it.
SAG-AFTRA Says the Industry Has Changed
SAG-AFTRA, which represents approximately 160,000 media professionals worldwide, has its own explanation for the situation.
The union charges members annual base dues, currently $246.14, alongside work dues amounting to 1.575% of covered earnings up to $1 million under applicable union contracts.
According to SAG-AFTRA’s membership rules, members can be terminated after 18 months of being out of good standing because of unpaid dues, assessments, fines or administrative fees.
In a statement to USA TODAY, the union acknowledged the concerns Little raised.
“Colton is expressing what many performers are feeling. The business has changed. The collaboration between artists, studios, casting, and representation that once defined this industry has become more transactional and member opportunities have diminished as a result.
“SAG-AFTRA remains committed to protecting the ability of actors to make a life in this profession. Member leaders are working hard to meet the challenges ahead, and we welcome every member who wants to be part of that work while respecting the individual choices any artist makes in this climate.”
The union also explained that it had temporarily suspended membership terminations during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
“Since 2020, SAG-AFTRA has worked hard to support members through extraordinary challenges, however, we must return to our traditional and constitutionally-mandated membership dues billing practices,” the union wrote. “This will allow us to continue funding critical union services like residuals processing, contract negotiations, legal advocacy and member support services.”
SAG-AFTRA said it previously offered members extended payment deadlines, installment options, late-fee waivers and other forms of financial relief.
It also stated that members nearing termination ahead of the October 31 deadline were given 12 months to bring their balances up to date.
“This policy is not new,” SAG-AFTRA said. “It represents a return to [our] regular membership procedures following an extended period of pandemic- and strike-related dues relief, suspended terminations, additional payment options and repeated outreach to affected members.”
The union added that terminated members can pay their outstanding fees and reinstate their membership.
Colton Little Isn’t the Only Actor Frustrated With SAG-AFTRA
The conversation surrounding SAG-AFTRA has become increasingly public, with other performers expressing their own concerns about the organization.
Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell criticized the union in October after claiming he was ineligible for health insurance coverage despite working steadily for 35 years.
“Do not become an actor. Do not join SAG,” Bell wrote on Instagram.
He also addressed SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, writing:
“How about stop using actors to run things maybe? They literally just know how to say words in front of a camera.”
Meanwhile, Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox criticized the union’s 2023 agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which ended the 118-day actors’ strike.
“I feel blessed to be a part of a union, and I’m very pro-union, but yeah that was a mess,” Cox said in a June interview with USA TODAY.
Cox also expressed concerns about AI regulation and residual payments, adding: “We got nothing that we wanted in that contract.”
Sometimes Choosing Yourself Is the Real Career Move
Little’s story isn’t simply about an actor struggling to pay union dues. It’s about the uncomfortable reality of building a career around something you love when that career doesn’t always love you back.
Hollywood has long romanticized the idea of perseverance, encouraging aspiring performers to keep auditioning, keep hustling and keep believing that their big break is just around the corner.
But there’s a difference between chasing an ambition and allowing it to consume your entire life.
Little’s decision to pull back offers a reminder that professional success shouldn’t come at the expense of personal stability. And while his acting career may eventually take another turn, he doesn’t owe Hollywood endless sacrifices just to prove he’s still committed to the dream.
Sometimes the most important role you can play is the one where you finally put yourself first.