I have a great respect for actors like Clint Eastwood, who's a wonderful director. I think two pictures that I directed were not successful, so I decided not to make any more.

I have always been grateful that my Russian mother and father came to this country to give me a better chance, and I have had a better chance.

Since my stroke, I have begun to see so many miracles all around me. I look out of the window in my room: verdant grass, silver-tipped oak leaves, tall palm trees gentle swaying as they reach to the sky, masses and masses of roses. All colors, so many shapes, exquisite fragrances.

I never had any desire to be a film actor. I never thought I was the good-looking movie type, which I assumed they wanted.

Really a bad guy is more interesting, dramatically, than the good guy.

I have a great respect for actors like Clint Eastwood, who's a wonderful director. I think two pictures that I directed were not successful, so I decided not to make any more.

With John Wayne, we argued all the time and we made four pictures.