---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad passed when I was 6. I found out…"
description: "\"My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the making of me. Where he got that from, I have no..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg"
---

#  My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about…

![“My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the making of me. Where he got that from, I have no idea.” quote by Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg)

> “My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the making of me. Where he got that from, I have no idea.”

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early exposure to parental encouragement can shape lifelong aspirations, even if the source is unclear.

**In simple terms:** Parental words influence future goals.

Key Takeaway

Embrace inherited encouragement.

Themes

family influence career legacy inspiration

Mood

nostalgic thoughtful

Type

reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- education choices
- personal development
- mentorship

Key Concepts

sociology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What part of your father's words resonates now?
- How can you honor that vision?

A Different Perspective

Unclear origins may weaken impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/)

## Related quotes

> [When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Acting and making art is just something I love to do, and I love to tell stories that feel important, honest and necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/acting-and-making-art-is-just-something-i-love-to-do-and-i-love-to/)

[Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/)

> [I have been someone who has always been good at mimicry, acting and making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-have-been-someone-who-has-always-been-good-at-mimicry-acting-and/)

[Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/)

> [Acting and making art is just something I love to do, and I love to tell stories that feel important, honest and necessary. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/acting-and-making-art-is-just-something-i-love-to-do-and-i-love-to-2/)

[Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/)

> [History is basically really looking back and finding out what happened to an individual, a community, a family, a group in a certain event.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/history-is-basically-really-looking-back-and-finding-out-what/)

[Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/)

> [My dad taught me to kiteboard when I was 13, and around the same time, I happened to just fall into being an extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/my-dad-taught-me-to-kiteboard-when-i-was-13-and-around-the-same-time/)

[Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/)

> [I love acting and making your own luck. You have to recreate yourself, I guess. Although, I don't know how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-love-acting-and-making-your-own-luck-you-have-to-recreate-yourself/)

[Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/)

> [I would love to be able to do both (acting and making music). If I look at someone like Sinatra, who toured until he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/i-would-love-to-be-able-to-do-both-acting-and-making-music-if-i-look/)

[Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/)

> [Whether I'm acting or making it, at the end of the day it's telling the story; action, drama. You want the audience to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/whether-i-m-acting-or-making-it-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-telling/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [I think the thing about acting and making music is that it's easy to do both. I'll shoot a movie for three months, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse/i-think-the-thing-about-acting-and-making-music-is-that-it-s-easy-to/)

[Christopher Mintz-Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse/)

> [I would like to start acting, making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-would-like-to-start-acting-making-movies/)

[Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/)

> [I grew up doing a lot of theater - acting and making sets and costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/i-grew-up-doing-a-lot-of-theater-acting-and-making-sets-and-costumes/)

[Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/)

> [Acting and making music are quite complementary. Acting relies on someone else's writing and direction; writing music or lyrics doesn't. But they are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/acting-and-making-music-are-quite-complementary-acting-relies-on/)

[Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/)

> [I've been spending quite a bit of time writing, acting, and making films. Because I'm doing all this extra writing, acting, and creating short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/i-ve-been-spending-quite-a-bit-of-time-writing-acting-and-making/)

[John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/)

## More by Malachi Kirby

> [Kunta Kinte's strength derives from the knowledge of where he comes from, but it struck me that I don't know where I come from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-s-strength-derives-from-the-knowledge-of-where-he-comes/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [One of the biggest things that I took from playing Kunta Kinte was where his strength came from in knowing where he was from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/one-of-the-biggest-things-that-i-took-from-playing-kunta-kinte-was/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [When I heard that 'Roots' was being remade, my first response was, 'Seriously?' I was a bit skeptical. Then I had an audition in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-i-heard-that-roots-was-being-remade-my-first-response-was/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-opportunities-as-a-black-actor/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [I found that there were things that God could reveal to me that I could never get myself physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-found-that-there-were-things-that-god-could-reveal-to-me-that-i/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [Charlie Brooker is crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/charlie-brooker-is-crazy/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [I was 22 when my mother gave me the original box set of 'Roots' and she said, 'I want you to watch this.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-22-when-my-mother-gave-me-the-original-box-set-of-roots-and-she/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [Playing Kunta Kinte is an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/playing-kunta-kinte-is-an-emotional-physical-spiritual-and-mental/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. That's the closest I got to African history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-taught-about-slavery-but-it-was-the-ancient-egyptians-that-s/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [My roots go back to West Africa, but my last name is Kirby, which is not an African name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-roots-go-back-to-west-africa-but-my-last-name-is-kirby-which-is/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment exists many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/there-are-many-people-still-ashamed-of-their-roots-because-of-the/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [Kunta Kinte is the closest thing I've ever seen... to a superhero. He's amazing. He's inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-is-the-closest-thing-i-ve-ever-seen-to-a-superhero-he-s/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [It's really cheesy, but basically, 'Roots' got me to find out my own roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/it-s-really-cheesy-but-basically-roots-got-me-to-find-out-my-own-roots/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [Kids under, I'd say, 14 are still maturing; they are still growing. They are still understanding themselves. To hit them with something like 'Roots,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kids-under-i-d-say-14-are-still-maturing-they-are-still-growing-they/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

> [I was the shiest person you could think of. I didn't really speak. I was an only child, so most of my life I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-the-shiest-person-you-could-think-of-i-didn-t-really-speak-i/)

[Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

[Explore all 36 Malachi Kirby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/)

## 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": "My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the making of me. Where he got that from, I have no idea.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Malachi Kirby"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/malachi-kirby-17803_acting_my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-w_1239969.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the…” — Malachi Kirby",
                "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": "Malachi Kirby",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My dad passed when I was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
