I'm an old broken down piece of meat and I deserve to be all alone . . .

People ask me about that all the time. They say, "Did you ever think of directing?" And I say, "It's completely out of the question."

A couple of guys won Academy Awards for the things that I turned down. Today, after coming to terms with everything, after being in therapy for a long time-there are areas where I will compromise.

Sometimes, when a man is alone, that's all you got is your dog.

I trained like an animal, but the thing is focus and concentration. When the bell rings it's like when the little red light goes on over the camera. And I can usually nail my lines on the first or second take because I'm right there.

Julian Schnabel painted a picture that he dedicated to my character in Rumble Fish. It was called The Motorcycle Boy. I remember when he brought it over to me at the Mayflower Hotel [in New York] years ago. This is when you and I knew each other.

I never look backwards. I have always been an athlete. I boxed before I acted.