Nigel Planer was only paid a "few hundred pounds" per episode for \'The Young Ones\'.
The 66-year-old actor - who played hippy Neil in the sitcom - received a small sum for the 12-episode comedy, in which he starred alongside Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall and Christopher Ryan.
Nigel told the Daily Star: "\'The Young Ones\' was a big hit, but we only made 12 episodes and of course that was our first foray into TV.
"I was only paid a few hundred pounds an episode - maybe £400.
"I do still receive royalties for the show, but that\'s worked out as a percentage of what I was originally paid. So it\'s only a little amount."
Nigel admitted his best-earning years were during his time starring in West End musicals.
Asked what was the best year of his financial life, he added to the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "It is a toss-up between 2004 and 2008. Each of those years, I starred in a big hit musical: Wicked and We Will Rock You. I earned a six-figure salary each year.
"The downside was that I had to play the same part eight times a week. You cannot imagine how physically and mentally clobbering that is. It really is tough."
\'The Young Ones\' came to an end in 1984 after a two-year run on BBC Two.
Nigel reunited last year with his former \'The Young Ones\' co-star Adrian for the BBC comedy \'Upstart Crow\'.
The show - which centred on William Shakespeare - starred David Mitchell as the British icon.
Adrian played the part of a policeman named Dogberry, and Nigel took on the role of Lord Egeus, a wealthy gentleman.
