Hollywood royalty Angela Bassett has officially broken barriers on broadcast television. Following extensive salary renegotiations ahead of Season 5 of Fox’s hit procedural drama 9-1-1, the Oscar-nominated star secured a historic deal earning her at least $450,000 per episode. The historic raise places her among the highest-paid actors on network television and sets a landmark record for actresses of color in broadcast drama history.
In addition to starring as Los Angeles Police Sergeant Athena Grant, Bassett helped develop 9-1-1 alongside creator Ryan Murphy and serves as an executive producer for both the flagship series and its spinoff, 9-1-1: Lone Star. The Angela Bassett 911 salary highest paid Black actress broadcast TV landmark reflects her immense industry legacy and vital role behind the camera.
“Bassett’s salary is believed to be among the top salaries on network television for any actor, male or female, and sets a precedent for pay equity.” — Industry Analyst
Bassett’s milestone payday reflects ongoing progress toward pay equity for Black women in Hollywood. Joining high-earning leaders like Kerry Washington (Scandal) and Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), Bassett continues to set new benchmarks for representation and fair compensation across the entertainment landscape.
