The actors' union said on Thursday its board had unanimously agreed to a strike after failing to reach a deal with studios, including Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O).
Officials said actors would join picket lines in New York and Los Angeles starting on Friday.
The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines.
The actors' walkout will shut down the studios' remaining U.S.-based productions of film and scripted television and hamper many overseas shoots.
Britain's main entertainment industry union Equity said it backed its U.S. counterpart and would be bringing up many of the same issues in its own contract negotiations over the next 12 months.
Persons:
Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher, Rather, AFTRA, Paul Fleming, Lisa Richwine, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Diane Craft, Andrew Heavens, Barbara Lewis
Organizations:
SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Studios, Britain's Equity, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Los Angeles, Equity, U.S ., Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
Hollywood's, New York, Los, California, Britain, London