--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I…" description: "\"I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn't.\" — John Lithgow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg" --- # I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people… ![“I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn't.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg) > “I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn't.” [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens acting to con artistry, creating believable illusion for the audience. **In simple terms:** Acting is convincing illusion. Key Takeaway Master the art of believable performance. Themes performance illusion craft authenticity Mood analytical insightful Type theatrical philosophical When to use this quote - stage acting - film - public speaking Key Concepts theatrical technique psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - When is deception acceptable? - How does authenticity affect audience trust? A Different Perspective Illusion can mislead unethically. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Con artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/con-artist/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“People must believe that you are real and are who you say you are, otherwise they will not want to do business with you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/people-must-believe-that-you-are-real-and-are-who-you-say-you-are/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [It's up to the actor to make sure they don't get typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/it-s-up-to-the-actor-to-make-sure-they-don-t-get-typecast/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I always find it fascinating to ask people, why they've chosen to live their life as an artist? Why be an actor, a singer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-always-find-it-fascinating-to-ask-people-why-they-ve-chosen-to-live/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I am an artist. An actor performs, whether it's in front of the camera or a live audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/i-am-an-artist-an-actor-performs-whether-it-s-in-front-of-the-camera/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [I'm an artist - I'm an actor - so when I'm looking for something, I'm looking for stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-victor-dixon/i-m-an-artist-i-m-an-actor-so-when-i-m-looking-for-something-i-m/) [Brandon Victor Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-victor-dixon/) > [Drawing is giving a performance; an artist is an actor who is not limited by the body, only by his ability and, perhaps, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/drawing-is-giving-a-performance-an-artist-is-an-actor-who-is-not/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [It's my job as an artist and as an actor to use this platform to make people learn and grow, to change their perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-sanders/it-s-my-job-as-an-artist-and-as-an-actor-to-use-this-platform-to-make/) [Ashton Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-sanders/) > [Since I've started to star in pictures I have always managed to retain my singularity of purpose when I got into the business, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dern/since-i-ve-started-to-star-in-pictures-i-have-always-managed-to/) [Bruce Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dern/) > [It is true that social media, nowadays, is important, but I don't understand everyone needing to know everything about an artist or an actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-deutch/it-is-true-that-social-media-nowadays-is-important-but-i-don-t/) [Zoey Deutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-deutch/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and, at the same time, opening their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I wanted to be an artist; it was be an artist or be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-o-connor/i-wanted-to-be-an-artist-it-was-be-an-artist-or-be-an-actor/) [Josh O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-o-connor/) > [I think that it's much easier for a recording artist to become an actor than for an actor to become a recording artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-think-that-it-s-much-easier-for-a-recording-artist-to-become-an/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [There's a line between being an artist and being a celebrity. Whether you're a famous photographer or artist, or you're an actor or director,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/there-s-a-line-between-being-an-artist-and-being-a-celebrity-whether/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [In order to be an artist and an actor, like tackling the classics in the theater as well as film, there's lots of discipline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/in-order-to-be-an-artist-and-an-actor-like-tackling-the-classics-in/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## More by John Lithgow > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The Broadway audience is made up of a greater percentage of tourists now. There's not nearly as much variety and danger and challenge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-broadway-audience-is-made-up-of-a-greater-percentage-of-tourists/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My sense of myself is that I'm a character actor, and character actors are ready, willing, and able to do anything, to be totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-sense-of-myself-is-that-i-m-a-character-actor-and-character-actors/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The essence of comedy, drama, and horror is surprise. I have an uncanny ability to surprise people because they look at my face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-essence-of-comedy-drama-and-horror-is-surprise-i-have-an-uncanny/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I never get tired of hearing compliments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I think there are all sorts of ways of turning into an actor, and there are a vast variety of different actors. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-think-there-are-all-sorts-of-ways-of-turning-into-an-actor-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'd sleep under a Vermeer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-d-sleep-under-a-vermeer/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm an avid Boston Red Sox fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-an-avid-boston-red-sox-fan/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My very first role was when I was 2 1/2 years old; I was one of Nora's children in 'A Doll's House,' with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-very-first-role-was-when-i-was-2-1-2-years-old-i-was-one-of-nora-s/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-as-flighty-as-anybody-you-put-a-lot-out-there-i-ve-been-through/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [We all grow up with inherited genes and inherited sensibilities, and they run very, very deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/we-all-grow-up-with-inherited-genes-and-inherited-sensibilities-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I don't deal with the nuts and bolts of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-don-t-deal-with-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-life/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My worst audition was for Tim Burton for 'Batman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-worst-audition-was-for-tim-burton-for-batman/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I gave up shame a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-gave-up-shame-a-long-time-ago/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/time-sneaks-up-on-you-like-a-windshield-on-a-bug/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) [Explore all 166 John Lithgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## 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": "I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lithgow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i-make-people-believe-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i-make-people-believe-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/john-lithgow-2438_actor_i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i_2985665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well…” — John Lithgow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Lithgow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a con artist in that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i-make-people-believe-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-a-con-artist-in-that-i-m-an-actor-i-make-people-believe-something/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```