Mike Rowe, the legendary host of a popular reality TV show, is suing a major network for millions of dollars in unpaid voice acting fees.
The lawsuit, filed by Rowe and his production company, alleges that the network violated a "pay-or-play" agreement that guaranteed Rowe $40,000 per episode, regardless of whether or not the episode aired.
According to the complaint, Rowe has been narrating the show since 2005, and the "pay-or-play" clause would apply to all episodes of the original series, as well as its various spinoffs.
The lawsuit claims that the network owes Rowe at least $2.04 million in lost wages, including potential payments for a dozen "extended" episodes of the show, as well as interest.
One of the key issues at hand is whether the "pay-or-play" agreement applies to the large number of "Deadliest Catch" spinoffs, including shows like "Deadliest Catch: The Bait" and "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns."
This is not Rowe's first legal dispute over the show. In June 2025, he filed a separate lawsuit against the network's parent company, asking for residual pay after the show was licensed out to streaming platforms.
Rowe and his company are now asking for a jury trial in the current lawsuit, which was filed on July 1.
