Chiklis [centre] stars in US cable TV series The Sheild

Personal management firm Evolution said the actor, who plays tough cop Vic Mackey, refused to pay them commissions based on his earnings.

"The more successful Chiklis became, the more and more abusive he would get toward agents and others," the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles superior court, said.

The actor's publicist said: "We will not comment on the suit as it is pending litigation, but as far as the personal attacks on Michael's character, they are absurd."

Performance

The lawsuit said that in addition to twice sacking his management company, Chiklis has fired two agents in the last two years.

The 39-year-old actor won the best-actor Emmy last September for his performance in the series, which is shown on Five in the UK.

According to the lawsuit, Evolution represented Chiklis in April 2000 and helped land him the lead role in the short-lived sitcom Daddio, but he fired the company a few months later.

He re-hired Evolution the following year, promising to remain with the firm and to continue to pay commissions as promised, the lawsuit said.

But the firm was sacked for a second time following the end of the first series of The Shield.