To be compared to Jackie Robinson is an enormous compliment, but I don't think it's necessarily deserved.

There is not racial or ethnic domination of hopelessness. It's everywhere.

I had to satisfy the action fans, the romantic fans, the intellectual fans. It was a terrific burden.

So I had to be careful. I recognized the responsibility that, whether I liked it or not, I had to accept whatever the obligation was. That was to behave in a manner, to carry myself in such a professional way, as if there ever is a reflection, it's a positive one.

We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.

As I entered this world, I would leave behind the nurturing of my family and my home, but in another sense I would take their protection with me. The lessons I had learned, the feelings of groundedness and belonging that have been woven into my character there, would be my companions on the journey.

When I set out to become an actor, I had set myself a standard.