Kelsey Grammer: NBC's $1.6 Million Man

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/22/2001 at 01:00 AM EDT

Frasier Crane can now buy the co-op adjoining his -- if not the entire building. Kelsey Grammer, 46, who plays sherry-swilling Seattle shrink Frasier Crane on NBC's 8-year-old sitcom "Frasier," has signed a contract extension making him the highest-salaried actor in TV history, reports Variety. In exchange for remaining on the show for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, he'll take home a record $1.6 million per episode. (Altogether, his two-year deal is said to be worth about $75 million.) By contrast, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen and "Mad About You" stars Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt all made more than $1 million in the final seasons of their series. The six stars of "Friends" each make about $750,000 per episode. Though not in Grammer's stratosphere, Drew Carey, 43, has negotiated a new contract for his ABC sitcom, Variety also reports. He'll now be up to between $600,000 and $750,000 per episode. With profits from syndication thrown into the pot, Carey's deal could ultimately be worth as much as $60 million.