As an actor, you can think your way out of a lot of good things sometimes. I trust my instincts as an actor, and I trust the instincts of the creators, so it's a good combination.
There's an art to being a good actor, there's an art to being a celebrity, and there's an art to longevity.
'Roc' was sort of an experiment because none of the lead actors on our show had any real television experience, especially in half-hour TV.
Television had a black president long before Barack Obama.
If you can appeal to another person's sense of humor, you can introduce ideas, thoughts, things that they may disagree with or not believe in. At least they'll listen.
One of the first guys I ever played golf with was Samuel L. Jackson. We did a movie many years ago and would play whenever we could.
If you're famous for being famous, that's usually a four-year career.
You may look at the people who sell the pages of the tabloids, and they're more famous for their personal exploits. I know all about these people, but when was the last time I saw something they've done or bought an album?
The guy who shows up on time, who has a good work ethic, network executives and producers know that. It's a very small industry we work in.
I was a class clown. I realized early on feeling very comfortable in front of people.
I'm the only one in the family who stumbled into acting.
Any day, the tide could turn. You have one or two bad films, and now you've got to make a comeback.
I've worked on shows where the actors don't talk to each other, and if they want to talk to each other, they talk through the director. What kind of existence is this? If I have to spend 14 hours a day with somebody, we're in a relationship. We'd better talk it out.
It's so funny because, here in Hollywood, an actor who really is versatile and who has the ability to transform between comedy and drama roles is considered a rarity.
People forget that, as artists, you are constantly looking to evolve and grow.
There are not that many people who can say they have been on a show long enough to leave it. Usually, you don't have a choice. The show gets canceled. There are very few people who live in the rare air of being able to leave a show while it is still in production.
I'm surprised sometimes at the responsibilities you have as a director.
After the series 'Roc' ended, every role offer I got was for the wise-cracking, ne'er-do-well brother or boyfriend, and I could have made a very good career doing those characters.
When I grew up in Cincinnati in 1974, the Board of Education set up the performing school, similar to the New York performing arts school, and it was in walking distance from my school.
