Real Reason Two And a Half Men's Jake Went From Highest-Paid Child Actor to a No-Name

Summary:

• • Two and a Half Men's Jake was played by Angus T. Jones, who became the highest-paid child actor on television at the time thanks to the sitcom.
• • However, Angus left the show after Season 9, later stating in interviews that his character meant nothing to him and urging fans not to watch the show, calling it "filth."
• • Despite the harsh comments, Jones appeared in the final episode of Two and a Half Men, but has since completely disappeared from screens and retired from acting.

The title Two and a Half Men, as it turned out later, referred too specifically to the main characters of one of Chuck Lorre's most popular sitcoms: two men and a growing boy who was yet to become a man. Sooner or later, the title would play a cruel joke on the sitcom, but the first scandal came sooner than expected.

Sitcom's Biggest Scandal Involved Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen has always been one of Hollywood's leading scandal-mongers, with whom both studios and directors were reluctant to work.

For a while, he got away with his antics and controversial comments, but eventually the scandal surrounding him reached a point of no return and he lost his role on Two and a Half Men.

But if every Two and a Half Men fan knows this particular story, few noticed that Angus T. Jones, who played Jake, simply disappeared from the screens at one point.

Angus T. Jones Was Very Critical of the Show

Angus T. Jones had a very successful year in 2010 as he was paid $300,000 per episode, which made him the highest paid young actor on television.

Three years later, though, Angus abruptly decided to leave the show, uncomfortable with the increasingly mature stories his character was given. The actor claimed that he found it challenging to portray teenage passion, love, and other juicy moments of teenage life.

In 2012, Angus T. Jones was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and criticized the project that made him popular. The actor became concerned that Jake's role was taking up too much of his life. Jones said he did not want to be like his character, so he turned to religion and became active in charity work.

And in a 2012 interview, he spoke very harshly about the sitcom and even urged viewers not to watch it:

“Jake from Two and a Half Men means nothing. He is a non-existent character. If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. [...] Please stop watching it and filling your head with filth.”

Although absent from seasons 11 and 12, Angus' character made an appearance in the last episode. Then, the 24-year-old actor enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder for college following the cancellation of the CBS sitcom.

Now, the 30-year-old former actor has no social networks and has completely disappeared from the spotlight, appearing occasionally in paparazzi photos where he is completely unrecognizable.

The long-running CBS hit has experienced many glorious moments and creative highs, but over twelve years there have been even more scandals, disagreements and plunges to the bottom of the moral barrel.

But perhaps that is the secret of Chuck Lorre's creation: simple, smooth roads are not for him, not for his characters, and not for his viewers.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter