I don't act to live. I live to act. Eli Wallach More Quotes by Eli Wallach More Quotes From Eli Wallach The big secret in acting is listening to people. Eli Wallach secret listening people If you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working? Eli Wallach killing-yourself ugly good-and-bad Having the critics praise you is like having the hangman say you've got a pretty neck. Eli Wallach sarcasm sarcastic beauty When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk. Eli Wallach western-movie ugly good-and-bad No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie men and I knew I'd never be up there. I'm a journeyman actor. I didn't think about stardom. Eli Wallach office men thinking I've learned that life is very tricky business: Each person needs to find what they want to do in life and not be dissuaded when people question them. Eli Wallach business people needs I always end up being the evil one, and I wouldn't hurt a fly. Eli Wallach hurt-feelings hurt evil In the book, I tell the story of seeing old movies when I was young and acting out scenes at home. Now I get scripts, and I act them out. Eli Wallach acting home book One thing changes every evening: It's the audience, and I'm working my magic. I'm always learning from it. Eli Wallach evening magic learning Well, I was getting a lot of money then, and I wasn't getting any Hollywood films, so I just did those. I'd always do a play in between. Whenever I ran low on funds, I'd always rush off to do a movie somewhere. Eli Wallach hollywood-films money play The richest man is the one with the most powerful friends. Eli Wallach powerful-friends powerful men I never dreamed I would do Westerns. Eli Wallach I've never lost my appetite for acting; it's innovative and challenging. Eli Wallach acting challenges lost But Clint I love, because Clint was my mentor. I knew nothing about making an Italian movie. Eli Wallach mentor italian John Huston was a superb master. He knew how to make good films. I did three things with him. One is called Independence. It plays in Philadelphia, for free. It's been playing there for 25 years. Eli Wallach philadelphia play years I always wanted to tell stories and act. Eli Wallach stories wanted Well, I've maybe gotten 200 requests for interviews about Marilyn, and I just decided I'm gonna do my own. Eli Wallach request wells interviews Recipe? Recipe? We don' need no stinkin' recipe. Eli Wallach cooking food needs My first Western was called The Magnificent Seven. Eli Wallach magnificent seven firsts Everyone thinks acting is easy. It's far from easy, but it's the most gratifying thing I do. Eli Wallach acting easy thinking
