--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad had been an actor... not only had…" description: "\"My dad had been an actor... not only had my dad been an actor, but his dad had been an actor, and my great-grandfather had been an actor. And who knows..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/david-hyde-pierce-20470_actor_my-dad-had-been-an-actor-not-only-had-my_2761886.png" --- # My dad had been an actor... not only had my dad been an… ![“My dad had been an actor... not only had my dad been an actor, but his dad had been an actor, and my great-grandfather had been an actor. And who knows before then?” quote by David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/david-hyde-pierce-20470_actor_my-dad-had-been-an-actor-not-only-had-my_2761886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/david-hyde-pierce-20470_actor_my-dad-had-been-an-actor-not-only-had-my_2761886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/david-hyde-pierce-20470_actor_my-dad-had-been-an-actor-not-only-had-my_2761886.png) > “My dad had been an actor... not only had my dad been an actor, but his dad had been an actor, and my great-grandfather had been an actor. And who knows before then?” [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting runs through multiple generations, suggesting talent and passion can be inherited or cultivated within families. **In simple terms:** Acting talent can span generations. Key Takeaway Encourage mentorship across generations. Themes family legacy talent career Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - theatre - film - family business - education Key Concepts generational influence career paths Questions to Reflect On - How does family shape career choices? - What can break generational patterns? A Different Perspective Risk of nepotism and limited diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Great grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-grandfather/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I never wanted to be an actor. My dad was an actor, and he never brought joy home, so I didn't view it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-actor-my-dad-was-an-actor-and-he-never/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [You have to succeed as a young actor, then as a dad actor, those would be my 'Harvey Moon' years, then as an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cranham/you-have-to-succeed-as-a-young-actor-then-as-a-dad-actor-those-would/) [Kenneth Cranham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cranham/) > [I have an older brother who's an actor and a grandfather who was an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lloyd-hughes/i-have-an-older-brother-who-s-an-actor-and-a-grandfather-who-was-an/) [Ben Lloyd-Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lloyd-hughes/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I wasn't aware of my dad being an actor when I was young. I remember there was an Australian children's entertainer on television called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/i-wasn-t-aware-of-my-dad-being-an-actor-when-i-was-young-i-remember/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [I don't know why people feel the need to do this to me, but my friend asked my dad, 'Aren't your proud of Jimmy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/i-don-t-know-why-people-feel-the-need-to-do-this-to-me-but-my-friend/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I decided in my late teens that I wanted to be an actor, and my dad and I agreed that films were better. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadanobu-asano/i-decided-in-my-late-teens-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-my-dad/) [Tadanobu Asano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadanobu-asano/) > [I thought I could never be the actor Dad was, so I avoided it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-thought-i-could-never-be-the-actor-dad-was-so-i-avoided-it-for-a/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I thought people would think I only wanted to be an actor because my dad was, rather than because I had an innate calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/i-thought-people-would-think-i-only-wanted-to-be-an-actor-because-my/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [After my last divorce, I said I was absolutely going to marry somebody in another field, an aid worker or something. Then I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/after-my-last-divorce-i-said-i-was-absolutely-going-to-marry-somebody/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [My uncle is an actor, my dad is a producer, so they asked me if I was interested, and I was like, 'How can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhas/my-uncle-is-an-actor-my-dad-is-a-producer-so-they-asked-me-if-i-was/) [Prabhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhas/) > [I don't have a traditional design background, but it's inherent to me. My father was in the fabric industry, and even my grandfather and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-bendet/i-don-t-have-a-traditional-design-background-but-it-s-inherent-to-me/) [Stacey Bendet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-bendet/) > [What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/what-children-need-most-are-the-essentials-that-grandparents-provide/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [My great-grandfather was a variety hall comedian called Billy Mack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/my-great-grandfather-was-a-variety-hall-comedian-called-billy-mack/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [My great-great-grandfather Julius founded the Communist Party in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/my-great-great-grandfather-julius-founded-the-communist-party-in-new/) [Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/) ## More by David Hyde Pierce > [I was going to be a concert pianist, and when I was in high school, my parents were scared to death that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/i-was-going-to-be-a-concert-pianist-and-when-i-was-in-high-school-my/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [People can be a hoot on the set, but if they're not good to work with, that tires very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/people-can-be-a-hoot-on-the-set-but-if-they-re-not-good-to-work-with/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [On some level in acting, what you're trying to find is truth, because when it's true is when it's also funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/on-some-level-in-acting-what-you-re-trying-to-find-is-truth-because/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [Nothing ever guarantees you anything-that's my rule. My other rule is never believe anything that anyone tells you, and then you'll never be fooled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/nothing-ever-guarantees-you-anything-that-s-my-rule-my-other-rule-is/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [So much of life is paradox. So much of life is neither one thing nor the other... it's both things at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/so-much-of-life-is-paradox-so-much-of-life-is-neither-one-thing-nor/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [You only have a week to do a show. I mean, there's only so deep you can dig in that week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/you-only-have-a-week-to-do-a-show-i-mean-there-s-only-so-deep-you-can/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [Maybe it's because I'm getting older, I'm finding enjoyment in things that stop time. Just the simple act of tasting a glass of wine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/maybe-it-s-because-i-m-getting-older-i-m-finding-enjoyment-in-things/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [I was as happy doing theater in New York for little or no money as I am now doing television for more money. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/i-was-as-happy-doing-theater-in-new-york-for-little-or-no-money-as-i/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [We can't control what the ratings will be. It's like, if you're going to go skiing, do you hope you'll have a good day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/we-can-t-control-what-the-ratings-will-be-it-s-like-if-you-re-going/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [I always think extremism is basically a reaction out of fear. What we seem to be experiencing is polar extremism that keeps people from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/i-always-think-extremism-is-basically-a-reaction-out-of-fear-what-we/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [From Kelsey, I have learned among many other things the value of turning on a dime and how you can have an extremely funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/from-kelsey-i-have-learned-among-many-other-things-the-value-of/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [I don't have the time to tell you all the things I've learned from this cast. It's an extraordinary ensemble because we all support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/i-don-t-have-the-time-to-tell-you-all-the-things-i-ve-learned-from/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [I think being an actor in general is acknowledging that we are constantly playing different roles, that we have all these different parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/i-think-being-an-actor-in-general-is-acknowledging-that-we-are/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [Sometimes in the most tragic situation, something just profoundly funny happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/sometimes-in-the-most-tragic-situation-something-just-profoundly/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [We all went to Kelsey's wedding, and yeah, we go to parties. We also go to each other's house. A group of us got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/we-all-went-to-kelsey-s-wedding-and-yeah-we-go-to-parties-we-also-go/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) [Explore all 30 David Hyde Pierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) ## 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": "My dad had been an actor... not only had my dad been an actor, but his dad had been an actor, and my great-grandfather had been an actor. 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