Screen Actors Guild Fast Facts

Here's a look at the Screen Actors Guild. In 2012, a merger was completed between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). The SAG-AFTRA labor union has more than 160,000 members.

June 30, 1933 - Articles of incorporation are filed. The guild is formed to get better working conditions for actors.

1935 - Granted an American Federation of Labor charter.

May 1937 - In order to prevent a strike, producers sign a contract with the guild ensuring minimum pay and recognizing the guild.

1943 - Actress Olivia de Havilland sues Warner Brothers studio for extending her contract. She later wins her case.

1945 - The US Supreme Court hands down the "de Havilland decision," which declares that studios may no longer hold contract players for more than seven years. This breaks up the system of the studio maintaining control over an actor's career.

1952 - The Guild signs its first contracts for filmed television programs.

December 1, 1952-February 18, 1953 - The first SAG strike is over filmed television commercials. The strike ends with a contract that covers all work in commercials.

August 5-15, 1955 - SAG holds its second strike. This time for increased television show residuals.

March 7, 1960-April 18, 1960 - Third strike over residuals for feature films sold, licensed, or released to television.

December 19, 1978-February 7, 1979 - SAG strikes for better residuals on television advertisements.

July 21, 1980-October 23, 1980 - SAG strikes with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). This strike centers on the distribution of profits from pay television and video cassette production.

March 21, 1988-April 15, 1988 - SAG and AFTRA television commercials strike. The strike is over payment for commercials appearing on cable TV.

February 25, 1995 - The first annual Screen Actors Guild Awards show is held.

May 1, 2000-October 30, 2000 - SAG and AFTRA strike against the advertising industry over commercial work compensation for basic cable and internet.

July 1, 2008 - SAG's TV/theatrical agreement expires.

November 22, 2008 - Talks between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) end after federal mediation fails to jumpstart a five-month stalemate.

January 26, 2009 - SAG chief negotiator Doug Allen is fired in a bid by the union's moderate faction to re-enter contract talks with the studios.

April 19, 2009 - SAG leadership split 53% - 47% to accept a new two-year contract with AMPTP.

June 9, 2009 - Members ratify the two-year contract covering television and motion pictures.

January 29, 2012 - Ken Howard, president of the guild, announces during the SAG Awards, that the merger between SAG and AFTRA has been approved by both groups.

March 30, 2012 - The merger of SAG and AFTRA is completed with more than 80% approval from both unions. The one union is named SAG-AFTRA.

January 27, 2013 - The first SAG Awards are held under the union banner "SAG-AFTRA One Union."

March 23, 2016 - SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard dies. Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris assumes his duties until the regularly scheduled national board meeting April 9.

April 9, 2016 - Carteris is elected president. She will serve the balance of Howard's unexpired term, which ends in 2017.

August 24, 2017 - Carteris is elected to a two-year term as president.

February 10, 2018 - SAG-AFTRA introduces new guidelines for members, called "Four Pillars of Change," aimed at fighting sexual harassment in the workplace.

September 2, 2021 - Actress Fran Drescher is elected to a two-year term as president.

July 14, 2023 - SAG-AFTRA goes on strike after talks with major studios and streaming services have failed. It is the first time its members have stopped work since 1980. On November 8, SAG-AFTRA and the studios reach a tentative agreement, officially ending the strike.

Ralph Morgan 1933, 1938-1940Eddie Cantor 1933-1935Robert Montgomery 1935-1938, 1946-1947Edward Arnold 1940-1942James Cagney 1942-1944George Murphy 1944-1946Ronald Reagan 1947-1952, 1959-1960Walter Pidgeon 1952-1957Leon Ames 1957-1958 Howard Keel 1958-1959George Chandler 1960-963Dana Andrews 1963-1965Charlton Heston 1965-1971John Gavin 1971-1973Dennis Weaver 1973-1975Kathleen Nolan 1975-1979William Schallert 1979-1981Ed Asner 1981-1985Patty Duke 1985-1988Barry Gordon 1988-1995Richard Masur 1995-1999William Daniels 1999-2001Melissa Gilbert 2001-2005Alan Rosenberg 2005-2009Ken Howard 2009-2016Gabrielle Carteris-2016-2021Fran Drescher 2021-present