--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For an actor to have a role that they're…" description: "\"For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and remembered for over the years, it's unusual. It's very lucky if it happens once - and it's luck..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/curtis-armstrong-21674_actor_for-an-actor-to-have-a-role-that-they-re_667495.png" --- # For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and… ![“For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and remembered for over the years, it's unusual. It's very lucky if it happens once - and it's luck that it's happened to me a couple of times.” quote by Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/curtis-armstrong-21674_actor_for-an-actor-to-have-a-role-that-they-re_667495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/curtis-armstrong-21674_actor_for-an-actor-to-have-a-role-that-they-re_667495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/curtis-armstrong-21674_actor_for-an-actor-to-have-a-role-that-they-re_667495.png) > “For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and remembered for over the years, it's unusual. It's very lucky if it happens once - and it's luck that it's happened to me a couple of times.” [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rare role that defines an actor’s career is largely due to luck, not just talent. **In simple terms:** Luck, not talent, defines iconic roles. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate luck in success. Themes career recognition luck memorable roles success talent null Mood reflective grateful Type insightful motivational When to use this quote - audition - career planning - legacy building Key Concepts chance fame legacy Questions to Reflect On - How would you honor luck in your own achievements? - What can you control when luck is uncertain? A Different Perspective Luck can be fleeting; talent still matters for longevity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [But when you really believe-in yourself, in your dream-you just have to do everything you possibly can to take control and make your vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/but-when-you-really-believe-in-yourself-in-your-dream-you-just-have/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“As luck would have it, I happened to have a top hat that I previously wore to my junior prom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/as-luck-would-have-it-i-happened-to-have-a-top-hat-that-i-previously/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [For most human beings, if what they want happens, it is a success. If what they could not have imagined happens, it is luck.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/for-most-human-beings-if-what-they-want-happens-it-is-a-success-if/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [We bring our preparation to the table, and opportunity may present itself, and if you are well prepared, you can seize opportunity and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/we-bring-our-preparation-to-the-table-and-opportunity-may-present/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [“Good luck in a way is bad luck not occurring, but the world wants stories of how bad luck happened, and how good luck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya-kudari/good-luck-in-a-way-is-bad-luck-not-occurring-but-the-world-wants/) [Daya Kudari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya-kudari/) > [I've met a few people in my time who were enthusiastic about hard work. And it was just my luck that all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gold/i-ve-met-a-few-people-in-my-time-who-were-enthusiastic-about-hard/) Bill Gold > [Nowadays, if you have a journey, albeit a simple one, you consider yourself lucky if nothing happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mayle/nowadays-if-you-have-a-journey-albeit-a-simple-one-you-consider/) [Peter Mayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mayle/) > [It's so crazy with the Internet and being able to play shows to people who are actually interested in you. I feel so lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/it-s-so-crazy-with-the-internet-and-being-able-to-play-shows-to/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [“I used to think that every eventful thing that happened in my life would feel as good as moving to New York City did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-caldwell/i-used-to-think-that-every-eventful-thing-that-happened-in-my-life/) [Chloe Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-caldwell/) > [It's so crazy now with the Internet and being able to play shows to people who are actually interested in you. I still feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/it-s-so-crazy-now-with-the-internet-and-being-able-to-play-shows-to/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [But, as an actor, the role that I enjoyed, in terms of really understanding and appreciating this profession, was Anoop Singh's 'Qissa'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasika-dugal/but-as-an-actor-the-role-that-i-enjoyed-in-terms-of-really/) [Rasika Dugal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasika-dugal/) > [I started taping my dad's auditions when I was 11, when he was auditioning actors for one of his movies. I would see, over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-started-taping-my-dad-s-auditions-when-i-was-11-when-he-was/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [We have a long way to go in the world in all industries. If I'm in the situation where I have equal experience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/we-have-a-long-way-to-go-in-the-world-in-all-industries-if-i-m-in-the/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone else's. Businessmen, for example, don't take their clothes off or cry in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/the-actor-s-role-in-the-community-is-quite-unlike-anyone-else-s/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I am a very versatile actor and can do any role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-am-a-very-versatile-actor-and-can-do-any-role/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) ## More by Curtis Armstrong > [I'm not an improv guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-m-not-an-improv-guy/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [You can do gross-out until the cows come home but if there isn't something to balance it, then it's not going to work at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/you-can-do-gross-out-until-the-cows-come-home-but-if-there-isn-t/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [As an actor I'm part of a long line of character people you can take back to the silent movies. There's always the little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/as-an-actor-i-m-part-of-a-long-line-of-character-people-you-can-take/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [To be honest, I haven't seen a lot of the current crop of teen movies because there's only so much time and there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/to-be-honest-i-haven-t-seen-a-lot-of-the-current-crop-of-teen-movies/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [Every now and then say, 'What the fuck.' 'What the fuckgives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity makes your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/every-now-and-then-say-what-the-fuck-what-the-fuckgives-you-freedom/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [I'm not a nerd, I play one on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-m-not-a-nerd-i-play-one-on-tv/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [It was very natural that people just think of me as a comic actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/it-was-very-natural-that-people-just-think-of-me-as-a-comic-actor/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [Without a plan, there's no attack. Without attack, no victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/without-a-plan-there-s-no-attack-without-attack-no-victory/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [Sometimes a person has to be dead a while before people can appreciate what they did when they were alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/sometimes-a-person-has-to-be-dead-a-while-before-people-can/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [I try to work and enjoy life, and that's about all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-try-to-work-and-enjoy-life-and-that-s-about-all/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [I'm at least getting my foot in the door as far as doing straight dramatic parts, which no one would have ever considered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-m-at-least-getting-my-foot-in-the-door-as-far-as-doing-straight/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [Freedom brings opportunity, opportunity makes your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/freedom-brings-opportunity-opportunity-makes-your-future/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [The movies that I did in the '80s were either good or bad, but I never was oppressed with any feeling - I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/the-movies-that-i-did-in-the-80s-were-either-good-or-bad-but-i-never/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [I'm not an improv guy. I'm not a nerd, I play one on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-m-not-an-improv-guy-i-m-not-a-nerd-i-play-one-on-television/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [I was going to middle school in Berkley, and I did not fit in at all. Like a lot of kids, I found theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/i-was-going-to-middle-school-in-berkley-and-i-did-not-fit-in-at-all/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) [Explore all 28 Curtis Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and remembered for over the years, it's unusual. 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