Courtney B. Vance Professions : Actor Born : March 12, 1960 Browse All Authors Top 29 quotes by Courtney B. Vance It's one of the roles of a lifetime to be able to play someone like Mr. Cochran who was so influential. People knew about his work in regard to police brutality. He was very much a staple in the community - someone who, if there was trouble, people knew, 'Go get Johnnie Cochran.' Courtney B. Vance police community work people My parents were all about education. My mother was a librarian - she retired after 30 years - and she made sure that we were always at museums, that we went to plays. Courtney B. Vance parents always mother education It was a natural for me to end up in the theater because I'd done a lot of reading about it. Courtney B. Vance end me done reading When actors have the opportunity to play a larger-than-life icon - my wife did it with Tina Turner, and Jamie Foxx did it with Ray Charles - you have to make a decision how you go in. What do you start with? Where do you begin? Courtney B. Vance you wife decision opportunity When I was a senior in high school, I did an internship with a law firm. And it was very clear that I did not have what it took to do that kind of work. Courtney B. Vance high-school law work school From the outside, there's a lot of glitz. They see you on the red carpet, but they don't see what it takes to get there. Courtney B. Vance see you red-carpet red I remember I was up for the role of Jim in 'Huck Finn,' and because I went to Harvard and Yale, they didn't think I would be able to play a slave. I said, 'Oh, please.' I had to go in there and prove to them that I wasn't too intelligent to play a slave. Courtney B. Vance go think prove remember I was a huge O. J. Simpson fan. Courtney B. Vance simpson fan huge Tom Cruise is one of the most wonderful, kind, and generous men that I've ever met. Courtney B. Vance cruise kind wonderful men Similar Authors Ian Mckellen actor Adhir Kalyan actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje actor Bert Lahr actor Alan Arkin actor Alan Alda actor All Authors