David Carradine Quotes

I'm supposed to be a pretty good theater actor.

The first role that I played as a musical - I was 14 years old, and I played Birdie in 'Bye Bye Birdie.' That was an awakening of, 'Wow, I'm good at that. People are responding.' And I hardly knew what I was doing back then, but there was something that people were seeing.

I did theatre when I was nine, I think. Nine and ten, and that was just the beginning of my whole involvement in acting, my whole interest. I don't really remember it that well. But it was really fun. I mean, it was exciting just to be on stage in front of an audience. It gives you a different kind of rush.

When I was 12, I played the Artful Dodger in Cameron McKintosh's production of 'Oliver!' when it came to Toronto. Just getting the role shocked my whole family, and I don't think I realized until then just how much I loved getting up in front of people and performing.

But I think what made me go into theater was seeing my mother onstage. The first thing she did was Mrs. Frank in 'The Diary of Anne Frank.' The second thing she did was a play about Freud called 'The Far Country.' She played a paralyzed woman in Vienna who goes to see Freud.

My plan was I just knew, I think the first time I was in a high school play, and I liked the feeling of that. Getting on the stage and entertaining and audience. Eventually, I went to New York and studied my craft, and I was in school for two years in the same class with Joanne Woodward and Steve McQueen.

I love being funny! I started in the theater when I was 9 and, believe it or not, always played the funny part!

You don't go to Berkeley to become an actor. In fact, I don't think you go to any school to become an actor. You've just sort of got to go out there and act.

When I was 11, I played the part of Rumpelstiltskin, and my teacher told me I would make a great actor.

I think I was 8 or 9 when I did my first play. It was at a community level, but that's when I knew that this is what I loved doing.

I was born a character actor.

I want to be back on Broadway one day. That's a dream of mine. There's nothing like live theater, and I think it's so important for me to be able to be on stage with an audience that responds.

I sure do love theater. I mean, that's where I started. I am actually sort of shy, but something happens when the audience comes in. It's something nice for me. It terrifies me, but I'm able to do it.

I had a moment - and I don't know if it was funny, necessarily, but I realized the effect I could have on people - when I was doing a production of 'The Little Prince,' and I played the snake.

I've been on stage since I was eight.

When I started auditioning, I'd take any audition I could get. The more dramatic ones didn't go as well as the comedic.

As an actor, you can steer a scene in another direction by playing it a little differently. And honestly? I like being an actor, and I want to keep having a career.

It's nice because working in England I'm know for working in television and theater when you get a chance to come out, it is quite fun to be out from behind the mask. You need to let people know who you are.

I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.

I consider that my best performance ever was as Peer Gynt.

I never felt I left the stage.

I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame.

I'm just a stage actress. I'm very comfortable onstage.

The old adage about acting - that it's 98% energy and 2% talent - is true, you know.

Of course I am an actor but I consider myself as an entertainer as well.