--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I do is let people know…" description: "\"The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving Rhames. Once I do that, everything else is cool. Every place I go, people think I'm Ving Rhames. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/michael-clark-duncan-59020_mission-impossible_the-first-thing-i-do-is-let-people-know_2584270.jpg" --- # The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving… ![“The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving Rhames. Once I do that, everything else is cool. Every place I go, people think I'm Ving Rhames. They're like, 'I love Pulp Fiction, I love Rosewood, I love Mission: Impossible.' And I'm like, "Uh, that's not me". So if I can get people past…” quote by Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/michael-clark-duncan-59020_mission-impossible_the-first-thing-i-do-is-let-people-know_2584270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/michael-clark-duncan-59020_mission-impossible_the-first-thing-i-do-is-let-people-know_2584270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/michael-clark-duncan-59020_mission-impossible_the-first-thing-i-do-is-let-people-know_2584270.jpg) > “The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving Rhames. Once I do that, everything else is cool. Every place I go, people think I'm Ving Rhames. They're like, 'I love Pulp Fiction, I love Rosewood, I love Mission: Impossible.' And I'm like, "Uh, that's not me". So if I can get people past that, the Oscar doesn't matter. If I can get them to know my name, Michael Clarke Duncan, and not Ving Rhames, man, that will be enough for me.” [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes the importance of personal identity over being mistaken for another actor, focusing on name recognition and authenticity. **In simple terms:** Being known for who you are matters more than awards. Key Takeaway Prioritize establishing your own name. Themes identity recognition authenticity Mood determined confident Type personal career When to use this quote - acting auditions - media interviews - public appearances - award ceremonies Key Concepts personal branding celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - How does name recognition affect career longevity? - What steps can you take to differentiate yourself? A Different Perspective Mistaking him for another actor can distract from his own achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mission impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-impossible/) ## Related quotes > [I think that it's a myth that there's one job that makes your whole career, unless you're winning an Oscar. But even that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-cash/i-think-that-it-s-a-myth-that-there-s-one-job-that-makes-your-whole/) [Aya Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-cash/) > [The foreign-language Oscar is something that doesn't go to the producer or the director; it goes to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deniz-gamze-erguven/the-foreign-language-oscar-is-something-that-doesn-t-go-to-the/) [Deniz Gamze Erguven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deniz-gamze-erguven/) > [I know who Michael Jackson is, I know who Prince is, I know the Isley Brothers, all that. 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That's why the world cried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jackson/do-you-know-michael-he-was-he-touched-the-hearts-of-many-people/) [Jermaine Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jackson/) > [I know everything about Michael Jordan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-lavine/i-know-everything-about-michael-jordan/) [Zach LaVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-lavine/) > [I love the idea of being on stage and people thinking they know who Michael Ball is, they've got an image and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-love-the-idea-of-being-on-stage-and-people-thinking-they-know-who/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I don't even know who Michael Chandler is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/i-don-t-even-know-who-michael-chandler-is/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [You are free, you just don't know it" ~Michael to Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/you-are-free-you-just-don-t-know-it-michael-to-sarah/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [You need to be grounded internally and excited about the world around you. If I were out of touch, it would be hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-snider/you-need-to-be-grounded-internally-and-excited-about-the-world-around/) [Stacey Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-snider/) > [I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I know Michael Chandler. I know his potential. He's very explosive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/i-know-michael-chandler-i-know-his-potential-he-s-very-explosive/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [Growing up, I was surrounded by music by the Stones, Carole King, and the Beach Boys. I didn't know who Michael Jackson was till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/growing-up-i-was-surrounded-by-music-by-the-stones-carole-king-and/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [Then Mission Impossible brought me to Australia and that was great because I fell in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-badler/then-mission-impossible-brought-me-to-australia-and-that-was-great/) [Jane Badler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-badler/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More by Michael Clark Duncan > [Being stupid at home. I was very stupid. I was very clumsy. I was always joking around with my older sister and I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/being-stupid-at-home-i-was-very-stupid-i-was-very-clumsy-i-was-always/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) > [My mother told me years ago, 'You're gonna be an actor.' So I could not play football, I could not wrestle, I couldn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/my-mother-told-me-years-ago-you-re-gonna-be-an-actor-so-i-could-not/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) > [It's just something that washes over you. It's a day by day process. It hasn't even really struck me yet. People talk about Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/it-s-just-something-that-washes-over-you-it-s-a-day-by-day-process-it/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) > [You know, the only thing that was distracting was when you have your emotion up and they're changing the lights or they're changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/you-know-the-only-thing-that-was-distracting-was-when-you-have-your/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) [Explore all 5 Michael Clark Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) ## More Mission impossible quotes > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. 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Mission: Impossible would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/oh-see-first-off-you-gotta-realize-everything-for-me-is-a/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [You know, I think I did originally have some sort of idea of maybe a Where Eagles Dare kind of mission against impossible odds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/you-know-i-think-i-did-originally-have-some-sort-of-idea-of-maybe-a/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [ And how deeply do I let business considerations affect \[screenwriting\] choices that might otherwise be more or less esthetic? . . . Do I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zwick/and-how-deeply-do-i-let-business-considerations-affect-screenwriting/) [Edward Zwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zwick/) > [Finding true love today has become almost a mission impossible...But when they meet, their hearts become one, through the miracle of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finding-true-love-today-has-become-almost-a-mission-impossible-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember when I was working on Mission: Impossible 2, John Woo said, "In Hong Kong, there's not much money and a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/i-remember-when-i-was-working-on-mission-impossible-2-john-woo-said/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) > [Making a summer movie is like accepting a mission impossible: your enemies are everywhere, and if you fail, the studio's never heard of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/making-a-summer-movie-is-like-accepting-a-mission-impossible-your/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [It's like with Smallville, I'm sure those creators didn't know I had done a ton of Star Trek work. I was just the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-morris/it-s-like-with-smallville-i-m-sure-those-creators-didn-t-know-i-had/) [Phil Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-morris/) > [“Got it,” Keaton said. “You stay here. I’ll do recon. If I’m not back in ten minutes, assume I’ve been captured. Save yourself.” Keaton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/got-it-keaton-said-you-stay-here-i-ll-do-recon-if-i-m-not-back-in-ten/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We do nods to Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible because they are popular with our fan base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/we-do-nods-to-charlie-s-angels-and-mission-impossible-because-they/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [“(Maggie)I opened my senses as I made my way stealthily down the hall. Truly all that was missing was Mission Impossible theme music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/maggie-i-opened-my-senses-as-i-made-my-way-stealthily-down-the-hall/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [For me, I felt bad for people asking the questions, cause you know their boss sent them out saying, 'Get me something on Mission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rhys-meyers/for-me-i-felt-bad-for-people-asking-the-questions-cause-you-know/) [Jonathan Rhys Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rhys-meyers/) [Browse all 46 Mission impossible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-impossible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving Rhames. Once I do that, everything else is cool. Every place I go, people think I'm Ving Rhames. They're like, 'I love Pulp Fiction, I love Rosewood, I love Mission: Impossible.' 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