--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was hanging out with Joey Clements…" description: "\"When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I made it a point not to try to emulate him. I wanted basically to create my own character. I did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_character_when-i-was-hanging-out-with-joey-clement_2670943.jpg" --- # When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I… ![“When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I made it a point not to try to emulate him. I wanted basically to create my own character. I didn't want him to think I was hanging out with him solely to use him as research.” quote by Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_character_when-i-was-hanging-out-with-joey-clement_2670943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_character_when-i-was-hanging-out-with-joey-clement_2670943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_character_when-i-was-hanging-out-with-joey-clement_2670943.jpg) > “When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I made it a point not to try to emulate him. I wanted basically to create my own character. I didn't want him to think I was hanging out with him solely to use him as research.” [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoids mimicking peers, focusing on authentic personal development as individuality beats imitation in creative fields **In simple terms:** Create your own character, not a copy Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic self‑expression Themes creativity identity career Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic career When to use this quote - acting workshops - networking - career planning Key Concepts method acting personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How to maintain originality? - What boundaries protect personal growth? A Different Perspective Influence from others is inevitable ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basically Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically-create-1867054/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-didn-421106/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Create Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-character/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Wanted Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-basically-2502541/) ## Related quotes > [i've always wanted, basically, to do research in the form of a spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-always-wanted-basically-to-do-research-in-the-form-of-a-spectacle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I basically do, is create a rough version of the song, and send it to the director for his approval. If they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanishk-bagchi/what-i-basically-do-is-create-a-rough-version-of-the-song-and-send-it/) [Tanishk Bagchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanishk-bagchi/) > [One of the things that really gets me excited and makes me start up companies is the fact that you can basically build something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anousheh-ansari/one-of-the-things-that-really-gets-me-excited-and-makes-me-start-up/) [Anousheh Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anousheh-ansari/) > [To me, when you create a character, you create a total human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/to-me-when-you-create-a-character-you-create-a-total-human-being/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [What's fun about doing a series is you get to take some time to create the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hornsby/what-s-fun-about-doing-a-series-is-you-get-to-take-some-time-to/) [Russell Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hornsby/) > [imperfections create character...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/imperfections-create-character/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [It's nice to create a character, not just within two scenes, but within the journey of a whole movie. It's fun to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/it-s-nice-to-create-a-character-not-just-within-two-scenes-but-within/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I wanna create a character that's really memorable... like Julia Roberts did in 'Pretty Woman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-wuhrer/i-wanna-create-a-character-that-s-really-memorable-like-julia-roberts/) [Kari Wuhrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-wuhrer/) > [Because I was able to submerge myself into the character, I didn't have to go back and forth. You don't have to work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-belle/because-i-was-able-to-submerge-myself-into-the-character-i-didn-t/) [Camilla Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-belle/) > [I never wanted to model myself on a female singer, which tells you a lot about my character. I didn't have a female role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-never-wanted-to-model-myself-on-a-female-singer-which-tells-you-a/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Sometimes you walk away from playing somebody and you think, "Wow that was far as from my own experience as I can possibly be."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/sometimes-you-walk-away-from-playing-somebody-and-you-think-wow-that/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The TED talk I gave, that gave me another character I didn't know about. I'm not saying the mind of a hero, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/the-ted-talk-i-gave-that-gave-me-another-character-i-didn-t-know/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [The day when I left Barca, because of the treatment I was receiving and my character, it didn't go as I would have wished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-valdes/the-day-when-i-left-barca-because-of-the-treatment-i-was-receiving/) [Victor Valdes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-valdes/) > [I love the idea of playing a character that didn't over think everything. He knows what's in front of him and he has an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/i-love-the-idea-of-playing-a-character-that-didn-t-over-think/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I appreciate the written word and spoken word more, but Atonement sort of established so much of me. It was a character that didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/i-appreciate-the-written-word-and-spoken-word-more-but-atonement-sort/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) ## More by Malcolm-Jamal Warner > [Our differences - in race, sexual preference, economic - have always been used as distractions to keep us divided. We get so wrapped up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/our-differences-in-race-sexual-preference-economic-have-always-been/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Doing 'Malcolm and Eddie' was probably the foremost miserable years of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/doing-malcolm-and-eddie-was-probably-the-foremost-miserable-years-of/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I never wanted to be one of those 'Where are they now?' kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-be-one-of-those-where-are-they-now-kids/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I was doing community theater since I was about nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-was-doing-community-theater-since-i-was-about-nine/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [People kind of have a misconception, because when someone calls me Theo and I correct them, say, 'No, my name is Malcolm,' they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/people-kind-of-have-a-misconception-because-when-someone-calls-me/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [When we've had images that perpetuate the negative stereotype of people of color, we've always had 'The Cosby Show' to hold up against that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/when-we-ve-had-images-that-perpetuate-the-negative-stereotype-of/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Being a celebrity can be very intoxicating and very addicting. And I've always been afraid of that, because I've grown up post-almost every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/being-a-celebrity-can-be-very-intoxicating-and-very-addicting-and-i/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [In spite of what some people claim, we are not in a post-racial era. I think it's still an important issue to bring up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/in-spite-of-what-some-people-claim-we-are-not-in-a-post-racial-era-i/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [People who feel under-appreciated sometimes make desperate moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/people-who-feel-under-appreciated-sometimes-make-desperate-moves/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I didn't go into acting because I wanted to be a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-didn-t-go-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-a-role-model/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [But theres a huge blessing that comes from being a part of a show like The Cosby Show that sets such a high standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/but-theres-a-huge-blessing-that-comes-from-being-a-part-of-a-show/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Theater is such its own living, breathing animal. You do a show every night, but it's different every night. Being on stage, you're experiencing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/theater-is-such-its-own-living-breathing-animal-you-do-a-show-every/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I think one of the greatest advantages we had on the show growing up was being exposed to Mr. Cosby - being exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-think-one-of-the-greatest-advantages-we-had-on-the-show-growing-up/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [My perspective was always being on a number one show doesn't mean anything if I'm not still working consistently at 40 to 50 and 60 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/my-perspective-was-always-being-on-a-number-one-show-doesn-t-mean/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I'm trying to break the stereotypical role now of the Theo-type character because, in my post-'Cosby' life, as I call it, I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-m-trying-to-break-the-stereotypical-role-now-of-the-theo-type/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) [Explore all 46 Malcolm-Jamal Warner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) ## More Character 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/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I made it a point not to try to emulate him. 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