The tyrant from “A Christmas Carol” still earns money from the film – and gives everything to his mother

Zack Ward was just 13 when he shot the Christmas classic a Christmas StoryAnd 34 years later, he's still making money from it – money that he puts aside for his mother.

The 47-year-old actor played thug Scut Farkus in the 1983 film about a boy named Ralphie who tries to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas present. And while the royalties are still coming in, they're nowhere near as high as fans would expect.

“They will be so disappointed,” Ward said in an interview with Page Six When asked how much he still earns from the film, which is shown on television every year during the Christmas season. “That's basically about $1,800 every two years … and it's in Canadian currency because we filmed in Canada.”

Although the amount is in Canadian dollars, Farkus transfers the entire amount to a special account he set up for his mother in case she needs the money in the future.

a Christmas Story was a moderate success when it first aired, but has since become a cult hit. Since 1997, the series has aired 24 hours a day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on TBS or TNT.

A Broadway musical based on the film was created by Dear Evan Hansen Songwriter (and LaLaLand Oscar winners) Benj Pasek and Justin Paul in 2011. This stage show is adapted for a Christmas Storylivewhich airs this Sunday on Fox and stars Matthew Broderick, Jane Krakowski and Maya Rudolph (among others).

Despite the popularity of the title, Ward gained recognition.

“So many people come up to me and say, 'Ralphie beat your ass,' and that makes them so happy,” he said. “I think they connect with themselves as the little kid who was bullied, and when they saw Scut Farkus get beat up, they just said, 'Yeah!' They greet me with a lot of love. It's usually very nice.”

Ward also gets lots of free beer and hugs, but wasn't allowed to keep Farkus' iconic raccoon hat.

“It's incredible to be part of something that looks like lightning in a bottle,” said the actor, who has since been with American Horror Storyadded.