It has to be real, and I think a lot of the problems we have as a society is because we don’t acknowledge that family is important and it has to be people who are present, you know and mothers and fathers, both are not present enough with children.

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

Writing can give full meaning to characters and avoid pure stereotype.

You weren't going to the theatre to change the world, but you had a chance to affect the world, the thinking and the feelings of the world.

The goal wasn't to be a millionaire or to be a Hollywood star. That was not the goal. The goal was something about - the goal was to find the goal, but I knew where it was.

I don't ever want to be a sentimentalist. I prefer to be a realist. I'm not a romantic really.

My grandmother though, began to prepare in her own neurotic - and I think psychotic - way to face racism. So she taught us to be racist, which is something I had to undo later when I got to Michigan, you know.