--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Showing fear is like having comedic…" description: "\"Showing fear is like having comedic timing because I think actors have a tendency to go way over the top with it, and that sort of loses steam for what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jeffrey-dean-morgan-4139_fear_showing-fear-is-like-having-comedic-timi_2339218.jpg" --- # Showing fear is like having comedic timing because I think… ![“Showing fear is like having comedic timing because I think actors have a tendency to go way over the top with it, and that sort of loses steam for what's going on. The audience sees right through that and laughs at you, so it is something that I'm aware of.” quote by Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jeffrey-dean-morgan-4139_fear_showing-fear-is-like-having-comedic-timi_2339218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jeffrey-dean-morgan-4139_fear_showing-fear-is-like-having-comedic-timi_2339218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jeffrey-dean-morgan-4139_fear_showing-fear-is-like-having-comedic-timi_2339218.jpg) > “Showing fear is like having comedic timing because I think actors have a tendency to go way over the top with it, and that sort of loses steam for what's going on. The audience sees right through that and laughs at you, so it is something that I'm aware of.” [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive fear can become comedic if overdone, causing audiences to lose immersion and mock the performance. **In simple terms:** Too much fear feels forced and funny. Key Takeaway Moderate fear to maintain tension. Themes acting comedy audience perception Mood analytical reflective Type theoretical practical When to use this quote - theatrical performance - film scenes - live comedy - character development Key Concepts timing emotional control Questions to Reflect On - When is fear effective in drama? - How can actors balance fear and humor? A Different Perspective Some genres require genuine fear for impact, limiting comedic use. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-tendency-5654403/) [Comedic Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedic-timing-542356/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Having Comedic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-comedic-5654404/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Showing Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-fear-2570349/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Think Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-actors/) [Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timing/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know if I have actually good comedic timing. But I don't think I've worked at any timing. I think timing is probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccormack/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-actually-good-comedic-timing-but-i-don-t-think/) [Mary McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccormack/) > [A lot of amazing comedians that I've worked with just really follow their instincts and you can't really teach someone comedic timing. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/a-lot-of-amazing-comedians-that-i-ve-worked-with-just-really-follow/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [There are certain people I'd absolutely love to work with. I was a huge fan of 'Two and a Half Men.' The comedic timing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-unger/there-are-certain-people-i-d-absolutely-love-to-work-with-i-was-a/) [Billy Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-unger/) > [I've always had a problem showing fear on a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-ve-always-had-a-problem-showing-fear-on-a-film/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [The thing is, not everyone is funny, is the reality. That's terrifying! You either have the comedic timing or you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/the-thing-is-not-everyone-is-funny-is-the-reality-that-s-terrifying/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I did improv in junior high school. Figuring out my comedic timing helped my confidence in talking to the bullies and talking to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-did-improv-in-junior-high-school-figuring-out-my-comedic-timing/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [Making one-minute videos, the point was to fit in as many jokes as possible and strip out all the air. With a feature I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/making-one-minute-videos-the-point-was-to-fit-in-as-many-jokes-as/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [I've grown as a storyteller, and my comedic timing has gotten better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-sousa/i-ve-grown-as-a-storyteller-and-my-comedic-timing-has-gotten-better/) [Melissa De Sousa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-sousa/) > [It's so unfair that Barack Obama, this cool, charming guy, also has good comedic timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/it-s-so-unfair-that-barack-obama-this-cool-charming-guy-also-has-good/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [“You will never disserve your relationship—nor anyone—by seeing more in another than they are showing you. For there is more there. Much more. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/you-will-never-disserve-your-relationship-nor-anyone-by-seeing-more/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“When a nation starts to hug its own particularities to itself it is showing fear and it will soon cease having any characteristics worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-macavoy/when-a-nation-starts-to-hug-its-own-particularities-to-itself-it-is/) [R.A. MacAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-macavoy/) > [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we-3/) [Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/) > [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we-2/) [Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/) > [“People are very quick to ridicule others for showing fear. But we rarely know the secret springboards behind human action. The man who shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-allan-collins/people-are-very-quick-to-ridicule-others-for-showing-fear-but-we/) [Max Allan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-allan-collins/) > [I think we defeat terrorism by showing them that we do not fear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-we-defeat-terrorism-by-showing-them-that-we-do-not-fear-them/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More by Jeffrey Dean Morgan > [Acting is a hard profession. More than anything, it takes fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/acting-is-a-hard-profession-more-than-anything-it-takes-fortitude/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [In a Western, you don't over-explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/in-a-western-you-don-t-over-explain/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I've called myself an actor - I won't say I've been an actor, but I've called myself an actor - since 1989. That's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-ve-called-myself-an-actor-i-won-t-say-i-ve-been-an-actor-but-i-ve/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [To do this movie in a watered-down fashion or have these characters be watered down wouldn't have been near as effective. It wouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/to-do-this-movie-in-a-watered-down-fashion-or-have-these-characters/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I think, as Ive gotten older I have realized what a huge privilege it is to even be in this business. I, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-think-as-ive-gotten-older-i-have-realized-what-a-huge-privilege-it/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I don't think I could last in anything for 10 years doing a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-don-t-think-i-could-last-in-anything-for-10-years-doing-a-character/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I love playing a villain. I think that there's something freeing about that, and it's a different kind of challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-love-playing-a-villain-i-think-that-there-s-something-freeing-about/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [There were rumors I wasn't going to die. The whole cast was sitting around the table reading the script. I fell on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/there-were-rumors-i-wasn-t-going-to-die-the-whole-cast-was-sitting/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I wasn't very good at it, but I knew that I loved acting immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-wasn-t-very-good-at-it-but-i-knew-that-i-loved-acting-immediately/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [My kind of success has come a little bit later in life. I'm not 20 any more and these people I've been working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/my-kind-of-success-has-come-a-little-bit-later-in-life-i-m-not-20-any/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I usually play tough guys and stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-usually-play-tough-guys-and-stuff-like-that/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I've always had a problem showing fear on a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-ve-always-had-a-problem-showing-fear-on-a-film/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I think, before 'Watchmen,' I was the guy from 'Grey's Anatomy' who's a pretty good guy, a pretty charming sweet guy, and so as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-think-before-watchmen-i-was-the-guy-from-grey-s-anatomy-who-s-a/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I just didn't want to get bored playing a character, and that's kind of the benefit of doing films; you've lived with a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-just-didn-t-want-to-get-bored-playing-a-character-and-that-s-kind/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [It's just as easy for me to be building a fence somewhere and scraping by on unemployment in between doing a guest star spot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/it-s-just-as-easy-for-me-to-be-building-a-fence-somewhere-and/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) [Explore all 115 Jeffrey Dean Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. 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