Dick Van Dyke Quotes

I'm not used to a script.

The first feature film I did, when I did 'Night Shift,' I improvised quite a bit because I would improvise at the audition, so sometimes I would return to the original lines, and then when I was on set, I would improvise even more.

I kind of went into soap opera with 'General Hospital' in the '80s. It's like theater because every day it's a new script, which really doesn't have a beginning, middle or end like a play or a movie script. So you have to be on your toes and bring it every day. And you have to be spontaneous, which is really how I like to work.

I'm not very good when I'm given scripts.

Those are the rules. To improvise in a movie with other people, when they're following a script, everybody has to know what's going on. I think a line or two we might change. Certainly, I do. But I wouldn't call it improvising. I'd call it fudging the lines.

Sitcoms are like summer stock. You put it up in three days, and then you do it in front of an audience, so it's a really great transition from theatre into camera work.

When I did 'Scrubs', we were able to always do one as scripted, and then we got to play a little bit and do some stuff. I thought that was pretty loose, but then coming on 'Happy Endings,' it's even looser.

I always try to stick to the script because I want to respect the writers, and I want to respect the director. But if the director and my fellow actors are okay with me playing with it a little bit, then I definitely want to play with it.

We're actually doing something scripted that's totally, you know, we kind of know what's going on, however, we're having to live life and death as the art.

We rehearsed our 'Scarface' to the nines. Long period of rehearsal, so that by the time we started to shoot, it was almost like doing a play. We all had a grand time doing it. It was a wonderful cast.

You don't get to rehearse much on TV. You are kind of rehearsing on film. Depending on the way you work, that's either a good thing or a bad thing.

I like to rehearse before blocking.

When we did 'Boomerang,' which is one of my favorite scenes, the whole dinner scene was ad-libbed.

'Dinner' is completely scripted. There are some improv elements, but I'm not interested in pranking people. It's more like a play than standup.

I perform a role as per the requirements of the script. When it comes to work, I don't have any personal choice with regards to glam or de-glam. As an actor, I enjoy doing everything.

I have this habit of not rehearsing a lot; I don't go on practicing my dialogues, pauses, and actions.

I'm taking my time with the acting and learning as I go.

I've always been drawn to storytelling, and acting is the most immersive form of storytelling you can get involved with! You're actually in the story when you're acting.

In theatre, you rehearse for months and then perform. That way, you're totally in-sync with your character, the other characters, and the story.

Acting is equal parts talent and perseverance.

I love just being in the moment, and the most present I feel in my work is with theatre.

I don't want actors reasoning with me about 'motivation' and all that bull.

You're living your life the entire time in both worlds - it's not like they say, 'Action' and you're like, 'Here we go, we're in this thing,' because that's where bad acting comes from.

Every project is a new challenge for an actor. If it's not, it's boring.

When I call 'Action,' I love to be surprised. And the actors I've been fortunate enough to work with always surprise me in the best ways.