--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was raised in the theater and I started…" description: "\"I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I was nine. To me, the idea of being an actor was about playing different characters and being a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/robert-knepper-22482_acting_i-was-raised-in-the-theater-and-i-starte_1177209.jpg" --- # I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I… ![“I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I was nine. To me, the idea of being an actor was about playing different characters and being a chameleon. That's why I was in the theater.” quote by Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/robert-knepper-22482_acting_i-was-raised-in-the-theater-and-i-starte_1177209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/robert-knepper-22482_acting_i-was-raised-in-the-theater-and-i-starte_1177209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/robert-knepper-22482_acting_i-was-raised-in-the-theater-and-i-starte_1177209.jpg) > “I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I was nine. To me, the idea of being an actor was about playing different characters and being a chameleon. That's why I was in the theater.” [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes acting as a chameleon-like practice, adopting varied personas to explore humanity and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Acting lets you try many roles and learn about yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace role‑playing to discover new facets of self. Themes creativity identity performance Mood inspirational playful Type motivational artistic When to use this quote - auditions - improv workshops - character studies - career pivots Key Concepts theatre method acting self‑exploration Questions to Reflect On - What character has taught you the most about yourself? - How do you maintain your core identity? A Different Perspective Risk of losing personal authenticity amid constant role‑changing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-idea-1474080/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Chameleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chameleon/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-characters/) [Idea Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-actor-390047/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raised/) [Started Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-acting/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-started-508492/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I love acting and the whole idea of being in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/i-love-acting-and-the-whole-idea-of-being-in-front-of-the-camera/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [I grew up performing and singing. And acting, the idea of it just sort of fell into my lap. And I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-hale/i-grew-up-performing-and-singing-and-acting-the-idea-of-it-just-sort/) [Lucy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-hale/) > [One of the great tools we use in acting is the idea of immediacy, that the audience gets to see you witness something apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crudup/one-of-the-great-tools-we-use-in-acting-is-the-idea-of-immediacy-that/) [Billy Crudup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crudup/) > [I kind of shy away from that idea of being an actress because it seems to me to be such a cliché. Also, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/i-kind-of-shy-away-from-that-idea-of-being-an-actress-because-it/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [I trained in theater. And I started in theater with my first two jobs doing stage plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-harington/i-trained-in-theater-and-i-started-in-theater-with-my-first-two-jobs/) [Kit Harington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-harington/) > [At one time musical theater, particularly in the '40s and '50s, was a big source of pop songs. That's how musical theater started, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/at-one-time-musical-theater-particularly-in-the-40s-and-50s-was-a-big/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [I was not exposed to a lot of culture. The shows we saw in high school, like 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'Miss Saigon,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/i-was-not-exposed-to-a-lot-of-culture-the-shows-we-saw-in-high-school/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I moved to New York after college. I wanted to pursue acting and theater, and I started doing more on-camera stuff - that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/i-moved-to-new-york-after-college-i-wanted-to-pursue-acting-and/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [I love theater. I started in theater when I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/i-love-theater-i-started-in-theater-when-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [If I had to pick one form of acting, it would be live theater. That's where I started; that's where I became a man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/if-i-had-to-pick-one-form-of-acting-it-would-be-live-theater-that-s/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I was a dancer from about the age of four, so I was always performing and forcing my parents to watch my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-was-a-dancer-from-about-the-age-of-four-so-i-was-always-performing/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [“The body lay outside an abandoned, boarded-up theater. The theater had started as a first-run movie house, many years back when the neighborhood had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mcbain/the-body-lay-outside-an-abandoned-boarded-up-theater-the-theater-had/) [Ed McBain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mcbain/) > [ \[Greek\] Theater started off and used masks and Kabuki, in the East, they used mask-work. And then, Commedia dell'arte in Italy and then, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/greek-theater-started-off-and-used-masks-and-kabuki-in-the-east-they/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I started theater when I was three, and I started doing professional acting when I was nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liana-liberato/i-started-theater-when-i-was-three-and-i-started-doing-professional/) [Liana Liberato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liana-liberato/) > [I can't imagine not coming back to the theater. It's where I started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-can-t-imagine-not-coming-back-to-the-theater-it-s-where-i-started/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) ## More by Robert Knepper > [I grew up with a dad who hated television, so we had to sneak television. It got ingrained in my head to never follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-grew-up-with-a-dad-who-hated-television-so-we-had-to-sneak/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [Sometimes with success comes some crazy that goes along with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/sometimes-with-success-comes-some-crazy-that-goes-along-with-it/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I did a film when I was about 30; it's a coming of age story called 'Gas Food Lodging,' and I'm so proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-did-a-film-when-i-was-about-30-it-s-a-coming-of-age-story-called/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [The crew, the actors and the writers all work the same way. We always want to do the best job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/the-crew-the-actors-and-the-writers-all-work-the-same-way-we-always/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I love being funny! I started in the theater when I was 9 and, believe it or not, always played the funny part!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-love-being-funny-i-started-in-the-theater-when-i-was-9-and-believe/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [What I say about actors is you always want to find an actor you can play ball with. You throw the ball at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/what-i-say-about-actors-is-you-always-want-to-find-an-actor-you-can/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > ['Prison Break' really changed me to somebody that can put butts in seats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/prison-break-really-changed-me-to-somebody-that-can-put-butts-in-seats/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I have to admit, I never watch television; once in a while I'll see things, but I grew up without it. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-have-to-admit-i-never-watch-television-once-in-a-while-i-ll-see/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I do a happy dance even when I get a guest-star role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-do-a-happy-dance-even-when-i-get-a-guest-star-role/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I come to work with a smile and I leave with a laugh, and I'm so grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-come-to-work-with-a-smile-and-i-leave-with-a-laugh-and-i-m-so/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [My life is going to continue to be public, and I just accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/my-life-is-going-to-continue-to-be-public-and-i-just-accept-that/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [With comedy, if you write something for me, I'm better at it. I'm not sure I'm so good at improvisational stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/with-comedy-if-you-write-something-for-me-i-m-better-at-it-i-m-not/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [Clint Eastwood, to me, is Clint Eastwood. He's great at being Clint Eastwood. But, I don't know how to be that guy. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/clint-eastwood-to-me-is-clint-eastwood-he-s-great-at-being-clint/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I thought I'd never do film, let alone television. I was a diehard theater nut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-thought-i-d-never-do-film-let-alone-television-i-was-a-diehard/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) [Explore all 27 Robert Knepper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was raised in the theater and I started acting when I was nine. To me, the idea of being an actor was about playing different characters and being a chameleon. 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