I was sitting in the toilet and I was by myself. I was tired of playing with the roller, so I said I'd better write a book.

I think they [Martin Scorsese, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra] liked my honesty. My personality. For that, they always treated me great. I, in turn, treated them great. No secret about it. My being who I am - that is that.

It's very sweet to have people say nice things about you, and I always accept that.

I always say that comedians and actors were all kind of shy when they were young. I was very, believe it or not, kind of embarrassed as a child. But my mother was a very strong lady and she was the one that kept it going when I thought it would be over for me as a performer. She was always my inspiration and she was a big influence on me.

Whatever you do to gain success, you have to hang in there and hope good things happen. Always think positive.

When you're 18, you're just so busy being scared and having fun - a crazy mixture - that you never thought of dying.

I don't care if the average guy on the street really knows what I'm like, as long as he knows I'm not really a mean, vicious guy. My friends and family know what I'm really like. That's what's important.