--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back 20 years ago, there was a division…" description: "\"Back 20 years ago, there was a division between movie actors and TV actors. That's kind of gone away. People who have had a lot of success in movies in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/michael-imperioli-15945_actors_back-20-years-ago-there-was-a-division-b_2029869.jpg" --- # Back 20 years ago, there was a division between movie… ![“Back 20 years ago, there was a division between movie actors and TV actors. That's kind of gone away. People who have had a lot of success in movies in the past now want to be on TV. There used to be much more of a quality division between TV and movies, and that's kind of not the case anymore.” quote by Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/michael-imperioli-15945_actors_back-20-years-ago-there-was-a-division-b_2029869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/michael-imperioli-15945_actors_back-20-years-ago-there-was-a-division-b_2029869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/michael-imperioli-15945_actors_back-20-years-ago-there-was-a-division-b_2029869.jpg) > “Back 20 years ago, there was a division between movie actors and TV actors. That's kind of gone away. People who have had a lot of success in movies in the past now want to be on TV. There used to be much more of a quality division between TV and movies, and that's kind of not the case anymore.” [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The historic split between film and television actors has faded; now many successful film actors pursue TV roles. **In simple terms:** Film and TV actors now share opportunities. Key Takeaway Embrace cross‑media opportunities. Themes entertainment career evolution media convergence Mood observational optimistic Type industry career When to use this quote - casting decisions - career planning - media strategy Key Concepts industry trends personal branding Questions to Reflect On - What drives actors to cross mediums today? - How does audience perception affect this shift? A Different Perspective Traditional prestige hierarchies still influence some casting choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Movie actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-actors/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I came from a generation of actors for whom TV was taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-came-from-a-generation-of-actors-for-whom-tv-was-taboo/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [There are many different ways the public can respond to actors - they can see you on TV and feel they know you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/there-are-many-different-ways-the-public-can-respond-to-actors-they/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [While you can be trained and groomed to be a better actor, seasoning happens only to TV actors. TV actors shoot every day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barun-sobti/while-you-can-be-trained-and-groomed-to-be-a-better-actor-seasoning/) [Barun Sobti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barun-sobti/) > [I had always wanted to be on TV; my mom told me that when I was little, I told her I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-always-wanted-to-be-on-tv-my-mom-told-me-that-when-i-was-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In films and TV, actors get chosen based on their capabilities, charisma and the image they carry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-mulay/in-films-and-tv-actors-get-chosen-based-on-their-capabilities/) [Suhasini Mulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-mulay/) > [The visual stuff just lives inside of you. As far as really being able to take care of an actor on a set, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drea-de-matteo/the-visual-stuff-just-lives-inside-of-you-as-far-as-really-being-able/) [Drea de Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drea-de-matteo/) > [I can't work like a machine, unlike other TV actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vatsal-sheth/i-can-t-work-like-a-machine-unlike-other-tv-actors/) [Vatsal Sheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vatsal-sheth/) > [You can think of Hollywood as high school. TV actors are freshmen, comedy actors are maybe juniors, and dramatic actors - they're the cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/you-can-think-of-hollywood-as-high-school-tv-actors-are-freshmen/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [If people find me suitable for a role, which equally interests me, then I will think about it. Having said that, there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hina-khan/if-people-find-me-suitable-for-a-role-which-equally-interests-me-then/) [Hina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hina-khan/) > [TV actors are doing great in Bollywood. We have our own market, our own fans, who love to see us on the big screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-singh/tv-actors-are-doing-great-in-bollywood-we-have-our-own-market-our-own/) [Mona Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-singh/) > [I expect filmmakers to look at talent and realize that the medium should open up more for TV actors too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-raina/i-expect-filmmakers-to-look-at-talent-and-realize-that-the-medium/) [Mohit Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-raina/) > [I grew up on sets, because both my mom and dad were commercial and TV actors, so I've always felt very comfortable in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/i-grew-up-on-sets-because-both-my-mom-and-dad-were-commercial-and-tv/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [The crossover wasn't happening. TV actors were TV actors, and film and stage actors were a whole different thing. And now there's just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lahti/the-crossover-wasn-t-happening-tv-actors-were-tv-actors-and-film-and/) [Christine Lahti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lahti/) > [It is about time that TV actors were paid as well as film stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-singh/it-is-about-time-that-tv-actors-were-paid-as-well-as-film-stars/) [Mona Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-singh/) > [It takes a minute to get use to the TV thing, and I have so much more respect for TV actors now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/it-takes-a-minute-to-get-use-to-the-tv-thing-and-i-have-so-much-more/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) ## More by Michael Imperioli > [I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I love fiction and read novels constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-love-fiction-and-read-novels-constantly/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I do smoke in real life. A lot. We're all smoking right now in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-do-smoke-in-real-life-a-lot-we-re-all-smoking-right-now-in-fact/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I played guitar in a band from when I was about 20 for three years. Then I sang a little. Then I started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-played-guitar-in-a-band-from-when-i-was-about-20-for-three-years/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [It doesn't really matter to me how people see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/it-doesn-t-really-matter-to-me-how-people-see-me/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I'd go for parts that didn't pay a dime, and there would be 300 to 400 actors there. It could be very discouraging. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-d-go-for-parts-that-didn-t-pay-a-dime-and-there-would-be-300-to-400/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Detroit 1-8-7' - the numbers are police slang for murder - is filmed in that blue-collar Michigan city, providing a flavor of authenticity. Detroit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-1-8-7-the-numbers-are-police-slang-for-murder-is-filmed-in/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Detroit is a city that really stands out. It's been through a very difficult time. There's been a lot of pain here, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-is-a-city-that-really-stands-out-it-s-been-through-a-very/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Everybody I play probably has some Italian in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/everybody-i-play-probably-has-some-italian-in-them/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [When you're going through these difficult times of chaos and trauma, the most important thing is to keep those who are closest to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-you-re-going-through-these-difficult-times-of-chaos-and-trauma/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [When I was young, you went to school, dealt with your friends and drama, went home, did your homework, went to bed, and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-i-was-young-you-went-to-school-dealt-with-your-friends-and-drama/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [I've played some gangster roles, but that's obviously not me. When you're an Italian-American New York actor, it's just an easy way to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-ve-played-some-gangster-roles-but-that-s-obviously-not-me-when-you/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [There's too many actors in LA. I mean, I'll go out there from time to time, but I always find it pretty soul-destroying. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/there-s-too-many-actors-in-la-i-mean-i-ll-go-out-there-from-time-to/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) > [Stop and appreciate what you have today. Look at what you have with wider eyes, maybe with more compassion and more gratitude for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/stop-and-appreciate-what-you-have-today-look-at-what-you-have-with/) [Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) [Explore all 41 Michael Imperioli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/) ## 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": "Back 20 years ago, there was a division between movie actors and TV actors. That's kind of gone away. 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