--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t like writing for comedians. I…" description: "\"I don’t like writing for comedians. I like writing for actors. The best comedians are the best actors.\" — Neil Simon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/neil-simon-10535_actors_i-don-t-like-writing-for-comedians-i-lik_2329621.jpg" --- # I don’t like writing for comedians. I like writing for… ![“I don’t like writing for comedians. I like writing for actors. The best comedians are the best actors.” quote by Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/neil-simon-10535_actors_i-don-t-like-writing-for-comedians-i-lik_2329621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/neil-simon-10535_actors_i-don-t-like-writing-for-comedians-i-lik_2329621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/neil-simon-10535_actors_i-don-t-like-writing-for-comedians-i-lik_2329621.jpg) > “I don’t like writing for comedians. I like writing for actors. The best comedians are the best actors.” [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing for actors focuses on character depth and performance, whereas writing for comedians emphasizes jokes; the best comedians excel in acting. **In simple terms:** Actors bring depth; comedians excel when they act. Key Takeaway Write with character depth to enhance comedic performance. Themes writing performance comedy Mood creative insightful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - scriptwriting - stand‑up routines - improv workshops - casting sessions Key Concepts character development acting techniques Questions to Reflect On - How does acting skill enhance comedic timing? - When is pure comedy more effective than acting? A Different Perspective Some comedians thrive on pure joke delivery without acting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I used to like writing for comedians - I enjoyed the challenge of making other people funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/i-used-to-like-writing-for-comedians-i-enjoyed-the-challenge-of/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [There is this false perception that comedians can never be serious. It's like from like the era of court jesters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/there-is-this-false-perception-that-comedians-can-never-be-serious-it/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [With most specials, even the best comedians will tell you they could have cut 15 or 20 minutes out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/with-most-specials-even-the-best-comedians-will-tell-you-they-could/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I'd like to be remembered as good person and as one of the best comedians of my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-as-good-person-and-as-one-of-the-best/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [You could have a room full of the best comedians in the world and, for some reason, Chris Farley would take the cake. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/you-could-have-a-room-full-of-the-best-comedians-in-the-world-and-for/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [To me, the best comedians are the ones that take everyday, normal, boring stuff that no one thinks is funny, and they make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/to-me-the-best-comedians-are-the-ones-that-take-everyday-normal/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [I sort of as a kid was fascinated with all the fat comedians, like John Candy, John Belushi, Benny Hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sasso/i-sort-of-as-a-kid-was-fascinated-with-all-the-fat-comedians-like/) [Will Sasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sasso/) > [This is going to sound pretentious, but I like comedy that addresses something I find either worrisome or interesting in my life. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/this-is-going-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-like-comedy-that-addresses-2/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Old radio comedy makes me laugh, as well as 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' and comedians like Paul Merton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/old-radio-comedy-makes-me-laugh-as-well-as-i-m-sorry-i-haven-t-a-clue/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [There are many styles of standup, but the comedians I like are people like Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor. Because Richard Pryor told the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/there-are-many-styles-of-standup-but-the-comedians-i-like-are-people/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [I really will never understand pushing back on comedians who are like, "I'm like a politician campaigning and shaking hands with these people. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/i-really-will-never-understand-pushing-back-on-comedians-who-are-like/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [You can tell a lot about a person by what comedians they like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-what-comedians-they-like/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [Comedians are like pop bands. When you're young, you have ruddy principles and don't do old stuff because you don't want to take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/comedians-are-like-pop-bands-when-you-re-young-you-have-ruddy/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [I think the best comedians have that bravery and courage to say, 'This is what it is. This is unfair; that's not cool.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-think-the-best-comedians-have-that-bravery-and-courage-to-say-this/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) ## More by Neil Simon > [Talent is the gift plus the passion - a desire to succeed so intense that no force on earth can stop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/talent-is-the-gift-plus-the-passion-a-desire-to-succeed-so-intense/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [You get attached to the way you write, and I'm attached to notebooks. That's where I really write the plays. Just two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/you-get-attached-to-the-way-you-write-and-i-m-attached-to-notebooks/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [There's no such thing as a sure thing. That's why they call it gambling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-sure-thing-that-s-why-they-call-it-gambling/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [“Never have so many given so much for so long for so little for so few for so seldom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/never-have-so-many-given-so-much-for-so-long-for-so-little-for-so-few/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Don't listen to those who say, you taking too big a chance. Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/don-t-listen-to-those-who-say-you-taking-too-big-a-chance/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Once you've opened yourself up, it's best to go all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/once-you-ve-opened-yourself-up-it-s-best-to-go-all-the-way/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Everyone thinks they can write a play; you just write down what happened to you. But the art of it is drawing from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/everyone-thinks-they-can-write-a-play-you-just-write-down-what/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Sports is the only entertainment where, no matter how many times you go back, you never know the ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/sports-is-the-only-entertainment-where-no-matter-how-many-times-you/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Evan Handler's new book is simply wonderful. He pulls you inside his life, and you come out his very close friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/evan-handler-s-new-book-is-simply-wonderful-he-pulls-you-inside-his/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [The body of a young woman is God's greatest achievement...Of course, He could have built it to last longer but you can't have everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/the-body-of-a-young-woman-is-god-s-greatest-achievement-of-course-he/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [I don't like dating or just living with a woman. I like to create a relationship, a marriage. And almost all of my marriages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/i-don-t-like-dating-or-just-living-with-a-woman-i-like-to-create-a/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [ “\[Y\]ou're young. Young takes care of everything.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/y-ou-re-young-young-takes-care-of-everything/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [People with honorary awards are looked upon with disfavor. Would you let an honorary mechanic fix your brand-new Mercedes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/people-with-honorary-awards-are-looked-upon-with-disfavor-would-you/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [I feel like writing about a time when I was probably, and think all of us are, the happiest before the obligations start in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/i-feel-like-writing-about-a-time-when-i-was-probably-and-think-all-of/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [“You're a witness. You're always standing around watching what's happening, scribbling in your book what other people do. You have to get in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/you-re-a-witness-you-re-always-standing-around-watching-what-s/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) [Explore all 65 Neil Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) ## 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": "I don’t like writing for comedians. I like writing for actors. 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