I knew real show business from my father, who had been an actor since he left the world of boxing.

I was an adopted child of my grandparents, and I don’t know how I can ever express my gratitude for that because my parents would have been a mess.

Love is just love, it can never be explained.

Before my grandpa built his own church, we went to the neighboring town, and it was a white community. You know, up north, mostly middle European people and Indians, Chippewa Indians. We were welcome to that church, but once we got in, they didn't know what to do with us.

When I was in New York after I left the Army, I studied for two years at the American Theater Wing, studied acting, which involved dance and fencing and speech classes and history of theater, all that.

There is not enough magic in a bloodline to forge an instant, irrevocable bond.

Love was just a word to me. Until you came along and gave it meaning.