Charles Durning Quotes

American - Actor | February 28, 1923 - December 24, 2012

Acting is ephemeral. You can't hang it on a wall. You can't throw it off. And you can't bring it out of a closet. It's there one night and it's gone the next, at least with stage acting anyhow.

Charles Durning

NightYouActingWallStageOut

There are many secrets in us, in the depths of our souls, that we don't want anyone to know about.

Charles Durning

SecretsKnowWantUsSoulsDepths

I can't count how many of my friends are in the cemetery at Normandy, the heroes are still there, the real heroes.

Charles Durning

FriendsRealHeroesCountCemetery

I would rather do a play because it's instantaneous. You go on the stage, and you know whether it's happening or not. Somebody asked me 'What is acting?' And I said, 'Acting is listening.' And if you ain't listening, nobody's listening.

Charles Durning

MeListeningYouActingPlayKnow

Dancing came easy for me. Acting came hard.

Charles Durning

MeEasyActingHardDancingCame

Of course, I'm not often the top dog, but sometimes it's better not to be top dog, because you last longer. If a movie or play flops, you always blame the lead. They say, 'He couldn't carry it.' They always blame him. But they rarely blame the second or third banana.

Charles Durning

DogBlameBetterYouPlaySometimes

I was born looking older - and I've been aging since I was a teenager.

Charles Durning

AgingLookingBornI Was BornBeen

I was born a character actor.

Charles Durning

CharacterBornActorI Was Born

I never turned down anything and never argued with any producer or director.

Charles Durning

DownNeverDirectorAnythingTurned

There's no nobility with war. It's tear-'em-up destruction that leaves you frustrated, bitter and angry... If you really knew what it was like for an hour, you wouldn't want anyone to go through it.

Charles Durning

AngryWarYouGoWantThrough

I lack confidence as an actor.

Charles Durning

ConfidenceActorLack

That place that no one knows about - horrifying things we keep secret. A lot of that is released through acting.

Charles Durning

ActingPlaceSecretThroughThings

12Next pageLast

Related Authors

Copyright © 2024 QuotesDict Charles Durning quotes