--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't start acting until I was 27, and…" description: "\"I didn't start acting until I was 27, and that was just through Gary Shandling and Ben Stiller who I knew through stand-up. And they both in the same y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/janeane-garofalo-1940_acting_i-didn-t-start-acting-until-i-was-27-and_430630.png" --- # I didn't start acting until I was 27, and that was just… ![“I didn't start acting until I was 27, and that was just through Gary Shandling and Ben Stiller who I knew through stand-up. And they both in the same year offered me parts on their programs which was unbelievably lucky and fortuitous.” quote by Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/janeane-garofalo-1940_acting_i-didn-t-start-acting-until-i-was-27-and_430630.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/janeane-garofalo-1940_acting_i-didn-t-start-acting-until-i-was-27-and_430630.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/janeane-garofalo-1940_acting_i-didn-t-start-acting-until-i-was-27-and_430630.png) > “I didn't start acting until I was 27, and that was just through Gary Shandling and Ben Stiller who I knew through stand-up. And they both in the same year offered me parts on their programs which was unbelievably lucky and fortuitous.” [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She began acting later in life, attributing her break to chance encounters with established comedians who offered her roles. **In simple terms:** Late start in acting thanks to lucky opportunities. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected chances. Themes career luck networking opportunity late bloom Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational career When to use this quote - auditions - network events - career pivots - seizing offers Key Concepts serendipity industry entry mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can you create more serendipitous moments? - What networks can you expand? A Different Perspective Success may still require sustained effort and skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Fortuitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortuitous/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) ## Related quotes > [I've been acting for 27 years, and anonymity has always been a part of what I do. Of course you get recognised every now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-ve-been-acting-for-27-years-and-anonymity-has-always-been-a-part-of/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I was unbelievably lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-hiller/i-was-unbelievably-lucky/) Wendy Hiller > [I actually feel I've been unbelievably lucky in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/i-actually-feel-i-ve-been-unbelievably-lucky-in-love/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [I felt unbelievably lucky to have the success I did with 'Goon Squad,' and I also felt the pressure of how fleeting that success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-felt-unbelievably-lucky-to-have-the-success-i-did-with-goon-squad/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Right when I started getting solid was when I was offered a lot of writing work. And when The Ben Stiller Show was picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/right-when-i-started-getting-solid-was-when-i-was-offered-a-lot-of/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I'm no Kenneth Branagh or Ben Stiller. I'm not that single-minded, 'I'm producing it, directing it, and starring in it' kind of person; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hollander/i-m-no-kenneth-branagh-or-ben-stiller-i-m-not-that-single-minded-i-m/) [Tom Hollander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hollander/) > [“Should she stick with the nice, sensitive guy who treats her well (Ben Stiller), or should she roll the dice with the frustrating boho…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/should-she-stick-with-the-nice-sensitive-guy-who-treats-her-well-ben/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [When I left the room he said to Ben Stiller, 'There goes the future Mrs. Apatow.' I guess he had some kind of plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/when-i-left-the-room-he-said-to-ben-stiller-there-goes-the-future-mrs/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [We had met with Ben Stiller here in LA when I was shooting The Ring and he was doing Meet The Fockers and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/we-had-met-with-ben-stiller-here-in-la-when-i-was-shooting-the-ring/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [ James L.Brooks is just a very original person. So that was definitely the luckiest, most important thing that happened to me \[meeting him\]. Then… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/james-l-brooks-is-just-a-very-original-person-so-that-was-definitely/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [When Ben Stiller and I first got married and we first had kids, I felt I needed to prove we could still do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-taylor/when-ben-stiller-and-i-first-got-married-and-we-first-had-kids-i-felt/) [Christine Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-taylor/) > [In 'Night At The Museum 3,' with Ben Stiller, I was only given a couple of lines. If you are in guys' comedies, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/in-night-at-the-museum-3-with-ben-stiller-i-was-only-given-a-couple/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [Created for MTV in 1990, the sharply observed, pop-conscious Ben Stiller Show - featuring its star's lacerating impersonations of Bono, Tom Cruise, and Eddie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/created-for-mtv-in-1990-the-sharply-observed-pop-conscious-ben/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) > [Ben Stiller, who I love and who is a friend and is such an incredible actor - he's hilarious, obviously, but I thought his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/ben-stiller-who-i-love-and-who-is-a-friend-and-is-such-an-incredible/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Ben Stiller isn't funny - honest. Ben Stiller is very funny, and smart, and cute, too, in a neurotic, New York kind of way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manohla-dargis/ben-stiller-isn-t-funny-honest-ben-stiller-is-very-funny-and-smart/) [Manohla Dargis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manohla-dargis/) ## More by Janeane Garofalo > [I did not support Operation Desert Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-did-not-support-operation-desert-fox/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [I'm not a disciplined writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-m-not-a-disciplined-writer/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Pedestrian's rights - because we live in California, I've got to address this issue. I don't know where on the fence I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/pedestrian-s-rights-because-we-live-in-california-i-ve-got-to-address/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [To combat social awkwardness, I would just act like I couldn't be bothered - that kind of aloof persona or aloof demeanor. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-combat-social-awkwardness-i-would-just-act-like-i-couldn-t-be/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [A war is going to destroy our economy even further. It's going to be a threefold humanitarian disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/a-war-is-going-to-destroy-our-economy-even-further-it-s-going-to-be-a/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [We're our own worst enemies a lot of the time, but I still blame men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/we-re-our-own-worst-enemies-a-lot-of-the-time-but-i-still-blame-men/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Should have dogs before they have kids. Everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/should-have-dogs-before-they-have-kids-everybody/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [There's a fake Facebook me. There's a fake me Twittering. Sometimes, when it was at the height of right-wing nonsense picking on me, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/there-s-a-fake-facebook-me-there-s-a-fake-me-twittering-sometimes/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Here's what the right-wing has in, there's no shortage of the natural resources of ignorance, apathy, hate, fear. As long as those things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/here-s-what-the-right-wing-has-in-there-s-no-shortage-of-the-natural/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [I think people are very cynical with actors trying to tell them what to believe in, or lobbying for any kind of changing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-think-people-are-very-cynical-with-actors-trying-to-tell-them-what/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Not that I was ever an asshole but I used to be much more of a bulldozer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/not-that-i-was-ever-an-asshole-but-i-used-to-be-much-more-of-a/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [The world would be better off with multiple superpowers. When Communist USSR was a superpower, the world was better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/the-world-would-be-better-off-with-multiple-superpowers-when/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Evil is in the face of every frat guy that ever raised a beer cup and went "whoooooo!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/evil-is-in-the-face-of-every-frat-guy-that-ever-raised-a-beer-cup-and/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) [Explore all 196 Janeane Garofalo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) ## 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 > [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 didn't start acting until I was 27, and that was just through Gary Shandling and Ben Stiller who I knew through stand-up. 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