--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You become funny for a reason. I became…" description: "\"You become funny for a reason. I became an actor because that's who I was, nothing else - it was the only thing I was good at. You become a clown and y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/matthew-lillard-13590_actors_you-become-funny-for-a-reason-i-became-a_2788313.jpg" --- # You become funny for a reason. I became an actor because… ![“You become funny for a reason. I became an actor because that's who I was, nothing else - it was the only thing I was good at. You become a clown and you make people laugh because a) it protects you from everything, and b) it's this validating force in your life. And when you're 12 and 13 years…” quote by Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/matthew-lillard-13590_actors_you-become-funny-for-a-reason-i-became-a_2788313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/matthew-lillard-13590_actors_you-become-funny-for-a-reason-i-became-a_2788313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/matthew-lillard-13590_actors_you-become-funny-for-a-reason-i-became-a_2788313.jpg) > “You become funny for a reason. I became an actor because that's who I was, nothing else - it was the only thing I was good at. You become a clown and you make people laugh because a) it protects you from everything, and b) it's this validating force in your life. And when you're 12 and 13 years old, you need validation and you're lost and you're kind of floating and you suffer from a severe learning disability and you're overweight and you have glasses... you become funny for a reason.” [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy can serve as a coping mechanism and identity for those facing personal challenges and insecurities. **In simple terms:** Being funny often masks deeper pain and provides validation. Key Takeaway Use humor to process pain, but seek deeper support. Themes identity coping validation mental health self‑esteem Mood reflective empathetic Type personal insightful When to use this quote - childhood adversity - learning disability - overweight stigma - acting career - social interaction Key Concepts psychology social role defense mechanism Questions to Reflect On - How does humor help you cope? - When does it become a barrier to growth? A Different Perspective Humor may conceal underlying issues needing professional help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) [Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability/) [Learning disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-disability/) [Making people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Validation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validation/) ## Related quotes > [The arrival of a good clown exercises a more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than twenty asses laden with drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sydenham/the-arrival-of-a-good-clown-exercises-a-more-beneficial-influence/) [Thomas Sydenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sydenham/) > [A clown always make the people happy. But once the curtain is close, do they realize that he needs someone who would also do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-clown-always-make-the-people-happy-but-once-the-curtain-is-close-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what would make a good story? Something about a clown who make people happy, but inside he's real sad. Also, he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/you-know-what-would-make-a-good-story-something-about-a-clown-who/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [The cleverest character in comedy is the clown, for he who would make people take him for a fool, must not be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cleverest-character-in-comedy-is-the-clown-for-he-who-would-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really into sci-fi. The reason I'm an actor is because of 'Star Wars' - I saw that and I knew that's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-m-really-into-sci-fi-the-reason-i-m-an-actor-is-because-of-star/) [Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/) > [I didn't ever intend to or want to be an actor. I'm not one of those people of whom they say, 'If you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakin-matthews/i-didn-t-ever-intend-to-or-want-to-be-an-actor-i-m-not-one-of-those/) [Dakin Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakin-matthews/) > [I'm sure one reason I became an actor is my basic unwillingness to live one life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/i-m-sure-one-reason-i-became-an-actor-is-my-basic-unwillingness-to/) [Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/) > [I was brought up in a house full of women; the first time I realised no one was interrupting me was when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-marsan/i-was-brought-up-in-a-house-full-of-women-the-first-time-i-realised/) [Eddie Marsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-marsan/) > [Trying different things is very important to me. I see people and want to wear their clothes and drive in their cars for awhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ward/trying-different-things-is-very-important-to-me-i-see-people-and-want/) [Fred Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ward/) > [I think that the reason I became an actor, probably, underneath it, was that I spent my life acting normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dash-mihok/i-think-that-the-reason-i-became-an-actor-probably-underneath-it-was/) [Dash Mihok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dash-mihok/) > [The reason I'm an actor is because I'll never be able to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/the-reason-i-m-an-actor-is-because-i-ll-never-be-able-to-be-perfect/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [I knew it would be hard work, but that's the reason you're an actor. If you're a bricklayer, you don't want to just show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-knew-it-would-be-hard-work-but-that-s-the-reason-you-re-an-actor-if/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [The reason I am an actor is because I have faith in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/the-reason-i-am-an-actor-is-because-i-have-faith-in-myself/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [It was the reason why I became an actor - to tell new stories - and I stick to that, which is how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-daggubati/it-was-the-reason-why-i-became-an-actor-to-tell-new-stories-and-i/) [Rana Daggubati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-daggubati/) > [I think the reason I'm an actor is the joy I find from escaping and going to be somebody else. That's what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glover/i-think-the-reason-i-m-an-actor-is-the-joy-i-find-from-escaping-and/) [John Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glover/) ## More by Matthew Lillard > [I direct with energy. I believe in energy. I think energy is an electric thing in actors. I try to inspire, encourage, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-direct-with-energy-i-believe-in-energy-i-think-energy-is-an/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. That's the problem with auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/there-are-several-times-when-i-walked-into-a-room-and-just-felt-like/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I think one of the main reason's Rick Rosenthal and Whitewater PIctures decided to 'get in bed with me' on 'Fat Kid' was because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-think-one-of-the-main-reason-s-rick-rosenthal-and-whitewater/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Thing is, I'm a funny actor, but I'm not good at being funny. I'm going to ramble for a second: I'm an actor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/thing-is-i-m-a-funny-actor-but-i-m-not-good-at-being-funny-i-m-going/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [A lot of times, as a clown, you find acting for a reason. It's a way to exercise yourself. If you're funny, you test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/a-lot-of-times-as-a-clown-you-find-acting-for-a-reason-it-s-a-way-to/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I think everyone is given drama, by virtue of the fact that we all have drama in our lives, but not everyone can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-think-everyone-is-given-drama-by-virtue-of-the-fact-that-we-all/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Nothing would make my kids happier than to do another movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/nothing-would-make-my-kids-happier-than-to-do-another-movie/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [So much of Hollywood is about who the people you work with are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/so-much-of-hollywood-is-about-who-the-people-you-work-with-are/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [The more lines I have, in general, the worse a movie is. It's very rare that I get say great things in fantastic movies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/the-more-lines-i-have-in-general-the-worse-a-movie-is-it-s-very-rare/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [If I could act in theater, my whole life, and never act in film or television again, and just direct the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/if-i-could-act-in-theater-my-whole-life-and-never-act-in-film-or/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Something like 'Without a Paddle' does really well at the box office and I'm like, 'Oh, here we go.' In 'Without a Paddle' I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/something-like-without-a-paddle-does-really-well-at-the-box-office/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [You just realize that at the beginning of 'Scooby' you're just going to start at level ten and stay at ten the entire time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/you-just-realize-that-at-the-beginning-of-scooby-you-re-just-going-to/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [For better or worse, I take my acting seriously. I may not have been in the best movies ever made, but I take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/for-better-or-worse-i-take-my-acting-seriously-i-may-not-have-been-in/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Charlie Brown's good. I always had a little crush on that Lucy. I thought she was kind of a hot little brunette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/charlie-brown-s-good-i-always-had-a-little-crush-on-that-lucy-i/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [When I was in high school, I was the guy directing plays after class. I started my first theater company at 19, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-the-guy-directing-plays-after-class-i/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) [Explore all 50 Matthew Lillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You become funny for a reason. 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