--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic…" description: "\"I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an actor. That's what got me into acting was putting on an act, because in life, I wasn't funny and I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/gene-wilder-3914_acting_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-maybe-a-comic-ac_969958.png" --- # I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an… ![“I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an actor. That's what got me into acting was putting on an act, because in life, I wasn't funny and I felt on stage or in the movies, I could do whatever I wanted to. I was free.” quote by Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/gene-wilder-3914_acting_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-maybe-a-comic-ac_969958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/gene-wilder-3914_acting_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-maybe-a-comic-ac_969958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/gene-wilder-3914_acting_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-maybe-a-comic-ac_969958.png) > “I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an actor. That's what got me into acting was putting on an act, because in life, I wasn't funny and I felt on stage or in the movies, I could do whatever I wanted to. I was free.” [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting offered an escape and freedom, allowing the speaker to express humor he lacked in everyday life. **In simple terms:** Acting gave him freedom to be funny. Key Takeaway Explore creative outlets. Themes art self‑expression freedom Mood nostalgic inspirational Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - career change - personal growth - theatre workshops Key Concepts identity performance art Questions to Reflect On - What creative activity lets you feel free? - How does performance affect self‑confidence? A Different Perspective Acting may not solve deeper personal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-putting-1855597/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Got Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-acting/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I love disappearing. That's what acting is. For me it's about putting on a persona, stepping into a pair of shoes. It's my face,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-love-disappearing-that-s-what-acting-is-for-me-it-s-about-putting/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I am a coward, basically, but one of the things about acting is that you are always putting yourself through yet another test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-west/i-am-a-coward-basically-but-one-of-the-things-about-acting-is-that/) [Samuel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-west/) > [I got into the acting business very young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/i-got-into-the-acting-business-very-young/) [James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/) > [Everyone in my family used to work with some kind of tool in their hands every day. That's what we do. That's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leblanc/everyone-in-my-family-used-to-work-with-some-kind-of-tool-in-their/) [Matt LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leblanc/) > [I got my first acting role because I was a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-kane/i-got-my-first-acting-role-because-i-was-a-singer/) [Christian Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-kane/) > [ I got into \[acting\] so late because of sports. And then when I was in grad school, I sort of got lulled into basically… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-got-into-acting-so-late-because-of-sports-and-then-when-i-was-in/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [That's the whole reason I got into acting: I don't do this like some grown-ups have to do it, because they have families, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/that-s-the-whole-reason-i-got-into-acting-i-don-t-do-this-like-some/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) > [I've trained myself not to put too much emphasis on awards, only because I never got into acting to win an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/i-ve-trained-myself-not-to-put-too-much-emphasis-on-awards-only/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [One of the reasons I got into acting was because its so fly-by-night. I never knew what was going to happen. Now all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-monteith/one-of-the-reasons-i-got-into-acting-was-because-its-so-fly-by-night/) [Cory Monteith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-monteith/) > [When I first got into acting, I never had any long-term goals, never had any plan. I just thought it would be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/when-i-first-got-into-acting-i-never-had-any-long-term-goals-never/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [The fact that I got into acting at all was kind of fluke-ish. I loved movies, but I can't remember ever really wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/the-fact-that-i-got-into-acting-at-all-was-kind-of-fluke-ish-i-loved/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [One of the reasons I got into acting to begin with is that I was trying to figure out how life worked. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/one-of-the-reasons-i-got-into-acting-to-begin-with-is-that-i-was/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I got into acting because I wanted to act and I love acting. That's my true north: to be creative and to be challenged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/i-got-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-act-and-i-love-acting-that-s-my/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [I got into acting in high school mainly because I wasn't doing anything else and started to hit a few bumps in the road.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-got-into-acting-in-high-school-mainly-because-i-wasn-t-doing/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) ## More by Gene Wilder > [Dont put the sheep on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/dont-put-the-sheep-on-the-table/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [When your mother gives you confidence about anything that you do, you carry that confidence with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/when-your-mother-gives-you-confidence-about-anything-that-you-do-you/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I'm an actor, not a clown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-m-an-actor-not-a-clown/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [ \[Gilda Radner\] died in '89, and I got non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000. I've just passed the five-year mark and I'm now what you call… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/gilda-radner-died-in-89-and-i-got-non-hodgkin-s-lymphoma-in-2000-i-ve/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I like - it's not that I want to be someone different from me, but I suppose it partly is that. I love creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-like-it-s-not-that-i-want-to-be-someone-different-from-me-but-i/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I live in a small town in Connecticut, and they don't write scripts there, but I get them anyway because my agent is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-live-in-a-small-town-in-connecticut-and-they-don-t-write-scripts/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/little-surprises-around-every-corner-but-nothing-dangerous/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I don't like giving speeches. It makes me nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-don-t-like-giving-speeches-it-makes-me-nervous/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [On screen, Gene Wilder could often be summed up as an accident waiting to happen, that frizzy, flyaway hair, the eyes darting this way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/on-screen-gene-wilder-could-often-be-summed-up-as-an-accident-waiting/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [Gene Wilder often said that his job as an actor wasn't to make something funny but to make it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/gene-wilder-often-said-that-his-job-as-an-actor-wasn-t-to-make/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [When I'm not working on something, I seem to go through periods of depression. It helps to keep busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/when-i-m-not-working-on-something-i-seem-to-go-through-periods-of/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [What I learned from Mel Brooks was audacity - in performance as in life. Maybe you go too far, but try it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/what-i-learned-from-mel-brooks-was-audacity-in-performance-as-in-life/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I'm going to tell you what my religion is. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Period. Terminato. Finito.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-m-going-to-tell-you-what-my-religion-is-do-unto-others-as-you-would/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [Gene Wilder characters wanted to be calm, but to the great delight of audiences, they rarely succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/gene-wilder-characters-wanted-to-be-calm-but-to-the-great-delight-of/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I love acting, especially if it's a fantasy of some kind, where it's not just realistic, it's not naturalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-love-acting-especially-if-it-s-a-fantasy-of-some-kind-where-it-s/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) [Explore all 119 Gene Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to be an actor. Maybe a comic actor, but an actor. That's what got me into acting was putting on an act, because in life, I wasn't funny and I felt on stage or in the movies, I could do whatever I wanted to. 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