I went to school, majored in theatre, and said 'Mom, I have to choose my own destiny. I want to be an actor.' A couple of weeks after I graduated college I called my mother up and said 'Can I borrow $200?' and she said 'Why don't you act like you've got $200.'

My name is Arsenio. That's a very unique name for a black man. In Greek, it means Leroy.

I knew going in that being a single parent would be one of the toughest jobs I'd ever have. I'd been a talk-show host, actor, comic, and on and on, but this gig was going to be my defining moment.

When you're doing late night you're on the grind every night; you send someone to check on your mom.

I know I did the right thing by taking time off to raise my son. But it also came at a price. I turned down many opportunities over the years because I didn't want to leave him for long periods of time. And in Hollywood, as in any business, the calls stop coming when you don't answer.

The bottom line is I've never had anybody bark at me in a mall with malicious intent. Everybody who barks at the kid from Cleveland is to let him know, "I know who you are." It's always a positive thing.

I don't possess a lot of self-confidence. I'm an actor so I simply act confident every time I hit the stage.