My grandmother had the most dramatic effect on my life because she set me in one direction, and I had to go back the other direction for my sanity, and for my ability to be a social human being.

I consider myself a novice film actor.

Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I'd try to read my lessons, and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter.

In the wintertime, in the snow country, citrus fruit was so rare, and if you got one, it was better than ambrosia.

A man's got to take care of his family. You live in my house, you sleep your behind on my bedclothes, you put my food in your belly because you are my son; you are my flesh and blood, not because I like you. It is my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you.

The last thing I want to be is a rich black superstar. I just want to act.

So in my junior year, I switched to the drama department.