--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and…" description: "\"As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and wanted to be a dramatic actor, I also grew up on sitcoms. I grew up on 'M*A*S*H' and 'All In The Family' and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/eric-mccormack-2915_actor_as-much-as-i-loved-pacino-and-de-niro-an_2774715.jpg" --- # As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and wanted to be a… ![“As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and wanted to be a dramatic actor, I also grew up on sitcoms. I grew up on 'M*A*S*H' and 'All In The Family' and 'Cheers.' And then around this time - this would have been '95, '96 - I was so into 'Friends' and 'Mad About You,' the idea of being on a sitcom…” quote by Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/eric-mccormack-2915_actor_as-much-as-i-loved-pacino-and-de-niro-an_2774715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/eric-mccormack-2915_actor_as-much-as-i-loved-pacino-and-de-niro-an_2774715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/eric-mccormack-2915_actor_as-much-as-i-loved-pacino-and-de-niro-an_2774715.jpg) > “As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and wanted to be a dramatic actor, I also grew up on sitcoms. I grew up on 'M\*A\*S\*H' and 'All In The Family' and 'Cheers.' And then around this time - this would have been '95, '96 - I was so into 'Friends' and 'Mad About You,' the idea of being on a sitcom became a very real thing that I wanted.” [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to sitcoms shaped his acting aspirations, leading him to pursue comedy roles. **In simple terms:** Sitcoms inspired his career path. Key Takeaway Embrace early influences. Themes career media comedy inspiration Mood enthusiastic reflective Type career personal When to use this quote - acting auditions - writing - networking - creative workshops Key Concepts television culture personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can actors diversify beyond sitcoms? - What role does nostalgia play in career choices? A Different Perspective Typecasting may limit diverse opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [De niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/de-niro/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Grew Sitcoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-sitcoms-1575001/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Sitcom Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom-real-3267752/) [Sitcoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcoms/) [Sitcoms Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcoms-grew-1575002/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I love sitcoms, and I grew up on sitcoms. That's my tasty junk food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-day/i-love-sitcoms-and-i-grew-up-on-sitcoms-that-s-my-tasty-junk-food/) [Felicia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-day/) > [ As much as I loved \[Al\] Pacino and \[Robert\] De Niro and wanted to be a dramatic actor, I also grew up on sitcoms. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/as-much-as-i-loved-al-pacino-and-robert-de-niro-and-wanted-to-be-a/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I grew up on M\*A\*S\*H and All In The Family and Cheers. And then around this time, this would have been '95, '96, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-grew-up-on-m-a-s-h-and-all-in-the-family-and-cheers-and-then-around/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I love sitcoms, and I grew up on sitcoms. That's my tasty junk food. So I wanted to create a sitcom and have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-day/i-love-sitcoms-and-i-grew-up-on-sitcoms-that-s-my-tasty-junk-food-so/) [Felicia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-day/) > [Television is a powerful medium that has to be used for something better than sitcoms and police shows. On the other hand, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roone-arledge/television-is-a-powerful-medium-that-has-to-be-used-for-something/) [Roone Arledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roone-arledge/) > [Definitely not a sitcom, that's my first condition. No sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-elizondo/definitely-not-a-sitcom-that-s-my-first-condition-no-sitcoms/) [Hector Elizondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-elizondo/) > [I loved doing sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-loved-doing-sitcoms/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [We kinda hated sitcoms when we sat down and talked about this. We wanted to do something that was in the sitcom vain but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/we-kinda-hated-sitcoms-when-we-sat-down-and-talked-about-this-we/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [There was a time when I couldn't watch sitcoms for a while because it was just cacophony, it was just noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-rashad/there-was-a-time-when-i-couldn-t-watch-sitcoms-for-a-while-because-it/) [Phylicia Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-rashad/) > [If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-doing-theater-that-would-be-my/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I like to say that I was raised by sitcoms, and that my personality is comprised of different characters. Darlene from Roseanne, Denise from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thao-nguyen/i-like-to-say-that-i-was-raised-by-sitcoms-and-that-my-personality-is/) [Thao Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thao-nguyen/) > [More teenagers go to movies or rent a tape of a movie than sit down and watch sitcoms on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-cohn/more-teenagers-go-to-movies-or-rent-a-tape-of-a-movie-than-sit-down/) [Mindy Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-cohn/) > [I grew up on network sitcoms. If those are gone when I'm 65 years old, I would never forgive myself for not stepping up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-grew-up-on-network-sitcoms-if-those-are-gone-when-i-m-65-years-old/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I mean, sitcoms shouldn't be doing 'Saturday Night Live.' You can't just do bit after bit after bit. You have to string it together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-dewitt/i-mean-sitcoms-shouldn-t-be-doing-saturday-night-live-you-can-t-just/) [Joyce DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-dewitt/) ## More by Eric McCormack > [I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-got-michael-caine-s-book-acting-in-film-and-i-read-it-on-the-plane/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ \[Townies\] was a great springboard, obviously, because Jenna \[Elfman\] went from that to Dharma & Greg, and a few years later, Lauren \[Graham\] went… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-great-springboard-obviously-because-jenna-elfman-went/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [The Trevor Project provides crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens and young adults. It's truly a lifeline to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/the-trevor-project-provides-crisis-intervention-and-suicide/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [We didn't, with 'Will & Grace,' set out to change the gay world. We just set out to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/we-didn-t-with-will-grace-set-out-to-change-the-gay-world-we-just-set/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ I think because the show \["Grant MacLaren"\] is essentially a hopeful show. The show says that as bleak as the future is, the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-think-because-the-show-grant-maclaren-is-essentially-a-hopeful-show/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ \[Townies\] was a huge cast. It was a bit ungainly, I think with 12 regular characters they had to keep writing for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-huge-cast-it-was-a-bit-ungainly-i-think-with-12-regular/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [It's very strange - several years ago, I was in the running for the 'Young Frankenstein' musical. Kristin Chenoweth was going to do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-s-very-strange-several-years-ago-i-was-in-the-running-for-the/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [But I was ready for it and I knew I could do it. I've just turned 40, I have a son and I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/but-i-was-ready-for-it-and-i-knew-i-could-do-it-i-ve-just-turned-40-i/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [As I got older, I realized that my life experience, what I really had, was always going to be more valuable than what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/as-i-got-older-i-realized-that-my-life-experience-what-i-really-had/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ It was a film \[The Lost World\], and it's a sequel at the same time. The first shot on the first day was from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-was-a-film-the-lost-world-and-it-s-a-sequel-at-the-same-time-the/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I started to realise that it wasn't for me. Perhaps I didn't have to give my Hamlet before I died, that the world might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-started-to-realise-that-it-wasn-t-for-me-perhaps-i-didn-t-have-to/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ They \[the Travelers\] know everything about the year that they're coming into. But you can know everything and still be tripped up by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/they-the-travelers-know-everything-about-the-year-that-they-re-coming/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I've had to take roles that on purpose were not Will-like so that someone like 'The Hollywood Reporter' would write, 'McCormack shows great range;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-ve-had-to-take-roles-that-on-purpose-were-not-will-like-so-that/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [Certainly 'Lonesome Dove' would be way hard now, because, I mean, back then I wasn't married. I didn't have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/certainly-lonesome-dove-would-be-way-hard-now-because-i-mean-back/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [My most romantic job: I was a manager at Baskin-Robbins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/my-most-romantic-job-i-was-a-manager-at-baskin-robbins/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) [Explore all 145 Eric McCormack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) ## 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": "As much as I loved Pacino and De Niro and wanted to be a dramatic actor, I also grew up on sitcoms. I grew up on 'M*A*S*H' and 'All In The Family' and 'Cheers.' 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