--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know a lot of really good actors…" description: "\"I know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who I still don't know why they don't work all the time because they're that good. It's just a w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg" --- # I know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who… ![“I know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who I still don't know why they don't work all the time because they're that good. It's just a weird business, and I know a lot of actors who shouldn't be working, but they work all the time.” quote by Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg) > “I know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who I still don't know why they don't work all the time because they're that good. It's just a weird business, and I know a lot of actors who shouldn't be working, but they work all the time.” [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even talented actors may not always succeed due to industry quirks; success isn’t solely about skill. **In simple terms:** Talent isn’t enough. Key Takeaway Skill alone doesn’t guarantee work. Themes industry talent luck Mood realistic analytical Type practical motivational When to use this quote - audition preparation - career planning - self‑promotion - skill development Key Concepts career volatility networking typecasting Questions to Reflect On - What can you control in your career? - How do you navigate industry unpredictability? A Different Perspective May underestimate systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [One thing I tend to do is ask actors tons and tons of questions to try to get at what they're thinking but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/one-thing-i-tend-to-do-is-ask-actors-tons-and-tons-of-questions-to/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [There's plenty of deaf actors, tons of them that are talented, that deserve to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/there-s-plenty-of-deaf-actors-tons-of-them-that-are-talented-that/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [Actors shouldn't be scared. Don't get scared on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/actors-shouldn-t-be-scared-don-t-get-scared-on-film/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I've always been a searcher - you know, a hunter. I'm certainly not the only one. They say actors shouldn't get political and everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-ve-always-been-a-searcher-you-know-a-hunter-i-m-certainly-not-the/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [There are certain storylines I shouldn't have done, there are certain actors I shouldn't have cast - guest stars, I mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-cherry/there-are-certain-storylines-i-shouldn-t-have-done-there-are-certain/) [Marc Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-cherry/) > [There is so much to learn that I find the entire debate that Pakistani actors shouldn't work elsewhere senseless. By working in other countries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawad-khan/there-is-so-much-to-learn-that-i-find-the-entire-debate-that/) [Fawad Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawad-khan/) > [There's a tacit belief that actors shouldn't write books, they're sort of allowed to direct movies but there will be a lot of skepticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/there-s-a-tacit-belief-that-actors-shouldn-t-write-books-they-re-sort/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [As actors, we shouldn't worry too much about the language we are going to speak in a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/as-actors-we-shouldn-t-worry-too-much-about-the-language-we-are-going/) [Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/) > [t is for me because I needed to do this. I really think actors shouldn't act unless they really need it in their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/t-is-for-me-because-i-needed-to-do-this-i-really-think-actors-shouldn/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [I know a lot of actors who get a part and then they dissect it and they want to change it and they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/i-know-a-lot-of-actors-who-get-a-part-and-then-they-dissect-it-and/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [Work is good when people are responsible, and in low-budget movies a lot of the actors don't want to be there. They're there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-young/work-is-good-when-people-are-responsible-and-in-low-budget-movies-a/) [Sean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-young/) > [I know a lot of actors don't like to watch themselves and sometimes I don't, but generally I do because I like to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-welch/i-know-a-lot-of-actors-don-t-like-to-watch-themselves-and-sometimes-i/) [Michael Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-welch/) > [I think there are a lot of actors who act because they have an impulse to do it and they can't ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-actors-who-act-because-they-have-an/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [I don't consider a lot of actors that I really admire movie stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kinnear/i-don-t-consider-a-lot-of-actors-that-i-really-admire-movie-stars/) [Greg Kinnear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kinnear/) > [A lot of actors get the leading role after doing a bunch of smaller things and people get to know them. I came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-luss/a-lot-of-actors-get-the-leading-role-after-doing-a-bunch-of-smaller/) [Sasha Luss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-luss/) ## More by Kevin Dillon > [The moment when you find out when you shoot the pilot - getting the pilot is a small victory. You shoot the pilot, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/the-moment-when-you-find-out-when-you-shoot-the-pilot-getting-the/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I've done a lot of movies before 'Entourage,' and I hope to always have my movie career going. Maybe I could take on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-movies-before-entourage-and-i-hope-to-always-have/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I was hoping to attend the School of Visual Arts and had a portfolio built up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-was-hoping-to-attend-the-school-of-visual-arts-and-had-a-portfolio/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I'm an old guy, so I started out playing 'Pong' with my brothers, and 'Mario Bros.' and whatnot. But we really got involved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-m-an-old-guy-so-i-started-out-playing-pong-with-my-brothers-and/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I've learned how to make a nice souffle, a little mac and cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-ve-learned-how-to-make-a-nice-souffle-a-little-mac-and-cheese/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I like everything about acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-like-everything-about-acting/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I might be into writing... I'd like to try it someday. I always come up with some good ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-might-be-into-writing-i-d-like-to-try-it-someday-i-always-come-up/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [Everything that happens on 'Entourage' does happen in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/everything-that-happens-on-entourage-does-happen-in-hollywood/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I think I look pretty decent in a tux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-think-i-look-pretty-decent-in-a-tux/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I live out here in Malibu, where I can see the stars. So I want to get a really nice telescope so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-live-out-here-in-malibu-where-i-can-see-the-stars-so-i-want-to-get/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I just always loved pinball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-just-always-loved-pinball/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I've been dying to go to India, especially to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I've also heard Bollywood town's a lot of fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-ve-been-dying-to-go-to-india-especially-to-the-andaman-and-nicobar/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [People wouldn't hire me for comedies. They would say, 'Oh, he doesn't do comedy,' and now it's really all I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/people-wouldn-t-hire-me-for-comedies-they-would-say-oh-he-doesn-t-do/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I'm a big fan of comedians not having to apologize for anything. Nowadays it seems comedians are always apologizing for being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-m-a-big-fan-of-comedians-not-having-to-apologize-for-anything/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I love the Discovery Channel, man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-love-the-discovery-channel-man/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) [Explore all 42 Kevin Dillon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) ## 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 know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who I still don't know why they don't work all the time because they're that good. It's just a weird business, and I know a lot of actors who shouldn't be working, but they work all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Dillon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons-just-tons-who-i-still-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons-just-tons-who-i-still-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/kevin-dillon-15664_actor_i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons_1430060.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know a lot of really good actors - tons, just tons - who I still don't know why they don't work all the…” — Kevin Dillon", "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": "Kevin Dillon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know a lot of really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons-just-tons-who-i-still-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-know-a-lot-of-really-good-actors-tons-just-tons-who-i-still-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```