I was born a character actor. Charles Durning More Quotes by Charles Durning More Quotes From Charles Durning There's no nobility with war. It's tear-'em-up destruction that leaves you frustrated, bitter and angry... If you really knew what it was like for an hour, you wouldn't want anyone to go through it. Charles Durning frustrated tears war That place that no one knows about - horrifying things we keep secret. A lot of that is released through acting. Charles Durning acting secret knows I'd like to have a decade of my life back. I dropped into a void for almost a decade. Charles Durning decades void If I had my druthers, I would do only stage work. Charles Durning stage ifs Sometimes you succeed and sometimes you don't. Charles Durning succeed sometimes You make the money in movies and TV so you can do theater. I do a play a year... somewhere. Charles Durning tvs play years Acting is ephemeral. You can't hang it on a wall. You can't throw it off. And you can't bring it out of a closet. It's there one night and it's gone the next, at least with stage acting anyhow. Charles Durning wall acting night I would rather do a play because it's instantaneous. You go on the stage, and you know whether it's happening or not. Somebody asked me 'What is acting?' And I said, 'Acting is listening.' And if you ain't listening, nobody's listening. Charles Durning acting listening play Of course, I'm not often the top dog, but sometimes it's better not to be top dog, because you last longer. If a movie or play flops, you always blame the lead. They say, 'He couldn't carry it.' They always blame him. But they rarely blame the second or third banana. Charles Durning lasts dog play I was doing judo before anybody knew it existed in this country. Charles Durning judo country I was born looking older... and I've been aging since I was a teenager. Charles Durning aging teenager born I think I've done 200 plays and 125 movies, so I've been very lucky to have made a living at acting. Charles Durning acting play thinking I never turned down anything and never argued with any producer or director. Charles Durning turned-down producers directors I lack confidence as an actor. Charles Durning actors I can't count how many of my friends are in the cemetery at Normandy, the heroes are still there, the real heroes. Charles Durning normandy real hero Dancing came easy for me. Acting came hard. Charles Durning acting dancing easy There are many secrets in us, in the depths of our souls, that we don't want anyone to know about. Charles Durning depth soul secret In order for your dreams to come true, you've got to stay awake. Charles Durning vision dream order You're out there on a high wire without a net, and that's the way actors operate. They have to be fearless about how they work and they have to create a life for the audience in 90 minutes and make them believe. Charles Durning fearless wire believe
