The ability to absorb a book and make someone else's words and story your own was exactly was I was doing on stage.

My father was a dreamer - my hero. He was a smart, tough guy from Poland, a cutter of lady's handbags, an old socialist-unionist who always considered himself a failure. His big line was: 'Don't end up like me.'

One thing I've never said in my whole life is, 'Let's have dinner at a Japanese restaurant.'

A summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat!

The other day my house caught fire. My lawyer said, "Shouldn't be a problem. What kind of coverage do you have?" I said, "Fire and theft." The lawyer frowned. "Uh oh. Wrong kind. Should be fire OR theft."

My father helped me leave. He said, 'It's all out there, it's not here.'

It's not easy being a father, but I've been allowed a comeback.