Rodney Dangerfield made just $35,000 for role on 'Caddyshack'

“Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must’ve been something before electricity.”

That quote in and of itself should have been worth a cool million. But alas, the great Rodney Dangerfield, always having received no respect during his career, was paid just $35,000 for his role in the cult classic Caddyshack.

In an upcoming book titled Caddyshack: The Making of A Hollywood Cinderella Story, author Chris Nashawaty explains how Dangerfield was vastly underpaid for what was one of the most iconic roles of 1980s moviemaking.

“Dangerfield would end up getting $35,000 for his role,” Nashawaty detailed. “And though he would always credit Caddyshack for launching his movie career, he would often do so while complaining that he actually lost $150,000 on the film, having given up a month of headlining in Vegas to shoot it.”

With a budget of just $6 million, Caddyshack ultimately ended up earning $40 million in the theaters and has made hundreds of millions in residuals since. There’s no telling how much of that went to Dangerfield prior to his death in 2004.

Each one of Dangerfield’s iconic quotes during the movie should have been worth a minimum of $35,000 each.

“Oh, this is the worst-looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh?”

We dare you to find a better on-liner in today’s watered-down comedy market.

Hell, Dangerfield’s poinpoint innuendos made the freaking movie.

“Hey, Smails! My dinghy’s bigger than your whole boat!”

It’s all sorts of a travesty, and those responsible for it should be ashamed after the fact.

Though, to brighten up your day, let’s leave you with one of the best scenes in one of the greatest comedies ever made.