James Brown Quotes

I am a prelude to better players, O my brothers! An example! Follow my example!

Humans have voids, and you need things to fill voids... I didn't have a dad to fill that male model void, so when I heard Eminem or freaking seen Dave Chapelle, that's what I gravitated to.

Sammy Davis, I backed him up. I used to study him every night. I saw how great performers worked and was able to incorporate a little bit from the best.

Ninety per cent of how you learn is watching great people. When you are surrounded by good actors it lifts your performance.

They wanted me to play third like Brooks so I did play like Brooks - Mel Brooks.

I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James Brown and Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. But he wasn't any of those people. To be inspired is one thing, but he made it all his own.

Some of the best advice I've gotten was from William Hurt and Harry Connick Jr. I've really learned a lot from both of them.

I worked with Lawrence Olivier some years ago. He was a great mentor.

I look up to Andrea Boccelli and Sarah Brightman. The best part about 'America's Got Talent' was performing with her!

In order to become a master, you need to emulate. If you're going to be as big as Warhol has become in art, then you have to have younger generations who are exploring your work and trying to understand it like a language.

The best form of flattery is to be admired, imitated or respected. I've always felt proud our fans look up to us or feel we are inspirational.

From the first time I saw Sid Caesar be funny I knew that's what I had to do.

You don't have to know people personally for them to be role models. Some of my most important role models were historical or literary figures that I only read about - never actually met.

When I was young, I was looking for people to look up to - role models I could respect.

Harvey Korman was like a private tutor to me. He was such a mentor.

I've patterned myself after my musical heroes.

As an actor and as a performer, I've felt that the education system has really helped me in a lot of ways... there was always a teacher or a professor along the way that kept pushing me to the next stage.

The most influential person in my life had been George Michael. He was very important to me and was one of my musical heroes growing up. Then he became a friend and mentor and someone I'd lean on.

You should be careful what you choose to see as a role model, whereas inspiration can come from anywhere.

I never really modeled my game after anybody.

Getting to work with Edie Falco and watching her be a quiet presence - but a very powerful presence - and so brilliant and free? That was the first person I saw where I was like, 'I want to emulate that.'

You just need a good coach. A coach that you respect.

You a role model by way of someone will model after your role. They'll model themselves after what they perceive is success. That doesn't mean they take your morality and virtue seriously. They want what you want, and they're willing to do what you do to get it.

Some people shun the idea of role models but I think it's one of the most important things people have in life - role models, to look up to.

Michael Jackson is so unique, and I look up to him and try to imbibe as much from him and marry it to my own style.