Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else. Michael Madsen More Quotes by Michael Madsen More Quotes From Michael Madsen Kids are a great excuse for you to stop acting like one. Michael Madsen excuse acting kids I don't have a boss . . . nobody tells me what to do. Michael Madsen boss Children recognize me from Free Willy (1993), and their parents recognize me from Reservoir Dogs (1992). The kids are, like, "There's Glen!" and the parents are, like, "Don't go near that guy!" Michael Madsen dog kids children Well, he's got a much bigger circus to play with, and he has a lot more financing available, and he has a lot more time available. I think that makes a huge difference. I think he instinctively knows how to make films and all the different ways that you can make stuff. He's very gadget-wise, and he's very smart about all the different things that are available to a filmmaker nowadays, and he makes very good use of them. He has a theater in his house, for God's sake. It has proper curtains on it and everything. It's pretty wild. Michael Madsen smart god wise My career has been very strange. My career is like a heart monitor. I get involved in a good project now and then to keep things going. And then I make things that I work on that I hope are going to be good so I can make a living and keep a roof over the heads of those little monsters I have in my house. Michael Madsen careers house heart I've never been able to read for anything, and every time I have, I've never gotten the part. And I don't know why that is. I just can't. Reading or auditioning for something... It's like it's this mental block in my brain, and I just can't do it. But when people ask you to do stuff without making you go through that, it's a much more pleasant experience. Michael Madsen block reading people Is it really selling out if it feeds your family? Michael Madsen our-family selling ifs You kids shouldn't play so rough . . . somebody's gonna start crying. Michael Madsen play kids children Well, one thing for sure, I won't be remembered for 'Free Willy.' Or maybe I will. Michael Madsen remembered free-will wells Your children don't have to fear you to respect you. Michael Madsen your-children our-children children I don't think I'm predominantly thought of as being a comedic actor. Michael Madsen comedic actors thinking I've learned my lesson over the years about what to say and what not to say in interviews, that's for sure. Michael Madsen interviews lessons years When you play a character that's someone real, when you're playing a true story, it's really great, 'cause you're not pretending to make up some silly thing. Michael Madsen real silly character I probably made a few pictures I shouldn't have done, but I have four sons and I have to pay the rent. If you have a decision to make about whether or not you can buy groceries at the market or whether or not you're going to make a bad movie, you're going to make a bad movie. Michael Madsen done decision son You know, every movie you make can't be great, no matter who you are. Michael Madsen who-you-are matter knows Maybe I was just born in the wrong era, man. I'm a bit of a throwback to the days of black and white movies. Those guys back then, they had a certain kind of directness about them. A lot of the screenplays, the plots were very simplistic - they gave rise to a type of anti-hero that maybe I suit better. Michael Madsen man black-and-white black white I'm not a publicity hound. I don't care about being on the cover of 'GQ' or 'Vanity Fair.' Michael Madsen dont-care being vanity care I don't love being an actor, but I'm not qualified to be anything else. I was an auto mechanic and drove a tow truck and tried to go to school to be a paramedic. Michael Madsen go truck love school I worked a lot of non-acting jobs for a really long time. They ranged from auto mechanic to landscaper to manual labor to working in a factory that made airplane parts. I even tried to go to school as a paramedic and ended up being an orderly in a hospital. Michael Madsen long-time time long school What people don't always understand is that I established a certain lifestyle for my family back in the days of 'Species' and 'Mulholland Falls' and 'The Getaway.' I wasn't about to move my six kids into a trailer park. So when people offered me work, it wasn't always the best, but I had to buy groceries, and I had to put gas in the car. Michael Madsen best me family work