It was sometimes difficult to reconcile a man's talents with his personality.
I've never been comfortable as a lead performer, and I never wanted to be a singer, particularly.
I've been fired from a situational comedy with a script they wrote specifically for me because of my voice.
I always hate it when I see the wrong person in massive roles, so for me, my biggest fear would be accepting a role I thought I wouldn't find the rhythm of.
Comedy is in my blood. Too bad it's not in my act.
I think the diva is kind of a cliche. My definition of a diva is somebody whose talent does not match what they're trying to play, so all this temperament comes out.
A good writer is not, per se, a good book critic. No more so than a good drunk is automatically a good bartender.
There was a period in music that didn't suit what I did. I didn't fit in.
Precisely because we do not communicate by singing, a song can be out of place but not out of character; it is just as credible that a stupid person should sing beautifully as that a clever person should do so.
Viola Davis is a perfect example of somebody who's so much better than the parts she has the opportunity to play.
It is almost as difficult to keep a first class person in a fourth class job, as it is to keep a fourth class person in a first class job.
You could give the best audition ever and not get the role or not get a callback because you just weren't what they were looking for.
Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt work.
Bill Murray, we've got to get people worthy to be on the screen with him, as opposed to just a bunch of random… with no disrespect… but a bunch of random local actors.
It's not that we don't have talent in our country; the talent is, in fact, not required today.
My affliction has been... I can make something or draw something or design something better than I can explain it.
If a great role comes along, and you are too tall to play it, then I think the role is too small for your talents.
Your ambition outweighed your talent
But, unfortunately, sometimes that affirmation creates a sense that you deserve special treatment and recognition in areas where you're not so talented.
How many people didn't get a part who would have been better than the person who got the part? Thousands.
An orchestra full of stars can be a disaster.
I always tell people that to be the funny person in a Steve Martin movie is like getting a call that Keith Moon wants you to play drums on his record. He should be playing drums on his record.
But I would have executed much greater things, had not government always opposed my exertions, and placed others in situations which would have suited my talents.
I wasn't good at writing big banger tracks because that wasn't in my heart.
