---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You…"
description: "\"When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change from Ricky to Rick.' So I thought it was a good idea. Rick never really fit. I tried for 18 yea..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png"
---

#  When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change…

![“When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change from Ricky to Rick.' So I thought it was a good idea. Rick never really fit. I tried for 18 years to make it work, and no one wanted to call me Rick. It should always have been Ricky. That's what it always should have been, so I'm going back…” quote by Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png)

> “When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change from Ricky to Rick.' So I thought it was a good idea. Rick never really fit. I tried for 18 years to make it work, and no one wanted to call me Rick. It should always have been Ricky. That's what it always should have been, so I'm going back to it.”

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He realized that forcing a name change conflicted with his authentic identity, leading to personal and professional friction.

**In simple terms:** Changing a name isn’t enough; authenticity matters.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your true self.

Themes

identity authenticity career selfacceptance

Mood

reflective determined

Type

personal career

When to use this quote

- acting
- public image
- career decisions
- personal identity
- social expectations

Key Concepts

personal branding public perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of your identity feel forced?
- How can authenticity improve your work?

A Different Perspective

A name alone cannot reshape audience perception.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> ['Rick' never really fit. I tried for 18 years to make it work, and no one wanted to call me Rick. It should always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/rick-never-really-fit-i-tried-for-18-years-to-make-it-work-and-no-one/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [“Rick said something, then tapped Isaac on the shoulder and said it again, so Isaac took Rick's penis out of his mouth and looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shukyou/rick-said-something-then-tapped-isaac-on-the-shoulder-and-said-it/)

shukyou

> [I wanted to be Rick Danko for most of my life despite the fact that I didn't play the bass!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/i-wanted-to-be-rick-danko-for-most-of-my-life-despite-the-fact-that-i/)

[Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/)

> [I'm a pretty big Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-roberts/i-m-a-pretty-big-ricky-gervais-fan/)

[Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-roberts/)

> [I would love to fight Ricky Hatton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulie-malignaggi/i-would-love-to-fight-ricky-hatton/)

[Paulie Malignaggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulie-malignaggi/)

> [Ricky Whittle's abs, they should be in a museum. They're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jes-macallan/ricky-whittle-s-abs-they-should-be-in-a-museum-they-re-crazy/)

[Jes Macallan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jes-macallan/)

> [You know, this whole thing about Ricky Martin, and how successful that young man is. He's 27, I was 29.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conrad/you-know-this-whole-thing-about-ricky-martin-and-how-successful-that/)

[Robert Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conrad/)

> [When I played in the Australia team the captains were all nerds. Allan Border was a nerd, Mark Taylor was a nerd, Steve Waugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/when-i-played-in-the-australia-team-the-captains-were-all-nerds-allan/)

[Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/)

> [I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-a-big-comedy-show-watcher-but-i-love-ricky-gervais-stuff-and/)

[Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/)

> [I love British voicing and British humour in general. I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcg/i-love-british-voicing-and-british-humour-in-general-i-m-a-huge-ricky/)

[McG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcg/)

> [Getting into character to become 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan for the 'Creed' film was surreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/getting-into-character-to-become-pretty-ricky-conlan-for-the-creed/)

[Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/)

> [I see the Ricky Martin thing, and everything is like, just packaged for this moment. Where are they going to be 10 years, 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-spector/i-see-the-ricky-martin-thing-and-everything-is-like-just-packaged-for/)

[Ronnie Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-spector/)

> [I believe it's going to be easier to stop Ricky Hatton than it will be to stop Lovemore N'dou.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulie-malignaggi/i-believe-it-s-going-to-be-easier-to-stop-ricky-hatton-than-it-will/)

[Paulie Malignaggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulie-malignaggi/)

> [I've signed babies' arms. I wanted to pull a 'Ricky Bobby' and sign a baby's forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-ve-signed-babies-arms-i-wanted-to-pull-a-ricky-bobby-and-sign-a/)

[Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/)

> [Ricky Gervais captured the staggering laziness that comes with a boring job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/ricky-gervais-captured-the-staggering-laziness-that-comes-with-a/)

[Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/)

## More by Ricky Schroder

> [There are going to be peaks and valleys in everything - in your marriage, in your job, in your life. So just enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/there-are-going-to-be-peaks-and-valleys-in-everything-in-your/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I spent my whole childhood wishing I were older and now I'm spending my adulthood wishing I were younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-spent-my-whole-childhood-wishing-i-were-older-and-now-i-m-spending/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [In the John Wayne movies, the Indians were savages that were trying to scalp you. That culture has really suffered because of the stereotype…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/in-the-john-wayne-movies-the-indians-were-savages-that-were-trying-to/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [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 always had a separate life than just my work. I built my own family. I have my own hobbies and interests. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-always-had-a-separate-life-than-just-my-work-i-built-my-own-family/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I'm just not a quitter and I just never, ever give up. I was forced to adapt because if I didn't, I was losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-m-just-not-a-quitter-and-i-just-never-ever-give-up-i-was-forced-to/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I've found joy, peace and perspective. Those are very good things to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-ve-found-joy-peace-and-perspective-those-are-very-good-things-to/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [As a young actor, there's a very small group of kids, just a handful. As you get older, all of a sudden, there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/as-a-young-actor-there-s-a-very-small-group-of-kids-just-a-handful-as/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I have fond memories of my childhood. I spent five wonderful years on a popular TV show, but I didn't have a normal childhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-have-fond-memories-of-my-childhood-i-spent-five-wonderful-years-on/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I have been a huge nerd to my kids. I haven't done the cool movies that they like. With '24,' I gained a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-have-been-a-huge-nerd-to-my-kids-i-haven-t-done-the-cool-movies/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I became a country music fan in 1990 when I moved to Colorado. It was my first exposure to it because I'm from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-became-a-country-music-fan-in-1990-when-i-moved-to-colorado-it-was/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I've had a very fortunate career and I've loved every moment of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-ve-had-a-very-fortunate-career-and-i-ve-loved-every-moment-of-it/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [There's some things that you're passionate about as a director. You just know it has to be a certain way. The challenge is resolving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/there-s-some-things-that-you-re-passionate-about-as-a-director-you/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [I didn't take the reins of my career until I was about 21, and I've been in charge since then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-didn-t-take-the-reins-of-my-career-until-i-was-about-21-and-i-ve/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

> [It's difficult being a child actor. I don't think everything beautiful has to be exploited. Some things can be beautiful and left beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/it-s-difficult-being-a-child-actor-i-don-t-think-everything-beautiful/)

[Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

[Explore all 70 Ricky Schroder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/)

## More Agent quotes

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. And there's a high relationship between people that were exposed to Agent Orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-was-in-vietnam-and-i-was-exposed-to-agent-orange-and-there-s-a-high/)

[Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/)

> [My first job was a film called 'Storm Damage' for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/my-first-job-was-a-film-called-storm-damage-for-the-bbc-i-was-16-and/)

[Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/)

> [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [In a fit of pique, I said to my agent, 'I'm going to write something you can sell.' The idea was to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/in-a-fit-of-pique-i-said-to-my-agent-i-m-going-to-write-something-you/)

[Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/)

> [You can change. And you can be an agent of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/you-can-change-and-you-can-be-an-agent-of-change/)

[Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/)

> [Anuj Bahari has always been a really good literary agent for me. What a good agent does is that he manages many of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/anuj-bahari-has-always-been-a-really-good-literary-agent-for-me-what/)

[Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/)

> [To be the agent whose touch changes nature from a wild force to a work of art is inspiration of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodale/to-be-the-agent-whose-touch-changes-nature-from-a-wild-force-to-a/)

Robert Rodale

> [Every imperial agent wants to reduce what is possible to what is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/every-imperial-agent-wants-to-reduce-what-is-possible-to-what-is/)

[Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/)

> [I wonder what an agent would do if he had to travel with the band he's booking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-williams/i-wonder-what-an-agent-would-do-if-he-had-to-travel-with-the-band-he/)

[Mary Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-williams/)

> [I never had trouble getting an agent. I went out and got my first couple roles, and literally within six months I never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/i-never-had-trouble-getting-an-agent-i-went-out-and-got-my-first/)

[Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/)

> [When it comes to transfers, I leave everything with my agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/when-it-comes-to-transfers-i-leave-everything-with-my-agent/)

[Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/)

> [The short story and the truth is that I was taking vocal lessons here in New York... One day, instead of my lesson, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-gore/the-short-story-and-the-truth-is-that-i-was-taking-vocal-lessons-here/)

[Lesley Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-gore/)

> [I don't know if I'd want to be a Secret Service agent. In the movies, it's exciting and romantic and all that. Really, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-don-t-know-if-i-d-want-to-be-a-secret-service-agent-in-the-movies/)

[Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/)

> [I remember when I was younger. Dad's agent came round, and I asked if she would represent me. She didn't represent children at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-tomlinson/i-remember-when-i-was-younger-dad-s-agent-came-round-and-i-asked-if/)

[Eleanor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-tomlinson/)

Browse all 466 Agent quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change from Ricky to Rick.' So I thought it was a good idea. Rick never really fit. I tried for 18 years to make it work, and no one wanted to call me Rick. It should always have been Ricky. That's what it always should have been, so I'm going back to it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ricky Schroder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-should-change-from-ricky-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agent"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-should-change-from-ricky-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/ricky-schroder-9788_agent_when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-s_2414005.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I turned 18, my agent was like, 'You should change from Ricky to Rick.' So I thought it was a good…” — Ricky Schroder",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ricky Schroder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I turned 18, my agent...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-should-change-from-ricky-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/when-i-turned-18-my-agent-was-like-you-should-change-from-ricky-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
