--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have played some wonderful leading…" description: "\"I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and had the whole 'China Beach' years where I really played a leading man on that. That was a fun c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/robert-picardo-11968_building_i-have-played-some-wonderful-leading-rol_1737020.jpg" --- # I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and… ![“I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and had the whole 'China Beach' years where I really played a leading man on that. That was a fun change for a character actor. But I'm perfectly happy going back to building my gallery of memorable character roles.” quote by Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/robert-picardo-11968_building_i-have-played-some-wonderful-leading-rol_1737020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/robert-picardo-11968_building_i-have-played-some-wonderful-leading-rol_1737020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/robert-picardo-11968_building_i-have-played-some-wonderful-leading-rol_1737020.jpg) > “I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and had the whole 'China Beach' years where I really played a leading man on that. That was a fun change for a character actor. But I'm perfectly happy going back to building my gallery of memorable character roles.” [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character actors enjoy varied roles; occasional leads are rewarding but not primary. **In simple terms:** Actors value diverse roles over fame. Key Takeaway Embrace varied opportunities. Themes career versatility identity Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type career inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - career planning - role selection Key Concepts acting craft role diversity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance variety and ambition? - What defines a fulfilling role? A Different Perspective May undervalue leading roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-actor/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-man/) [Leading Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-roles-1310685/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Played Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-leading-1076625/) [Roles Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-stage-1482942/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I've certainly played those leading man or male juvenile roles, where you're not supposed to make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/i-ve-certainly-played-those-leading-man-or-male-juvenile-roles-where/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [I started playing small roles, but it's the stage that I enjoy the most, as that's where I can entertain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/i-started-playing-small-roles-but-it-s-the-stage-that-i-enjoy-the/) [Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/) > [I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-always-try-to-be-myself/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I could have been a lot more famous and played leading men and everything. For whatever reason, I didn't go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-could-have-been-a-lot-more-famous-and-played-leading-men-and/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [I still haven't played a leading role in cinema or in TV, and that's something that I long for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vergara/i-still-haven-t-played-a-leading-role-in-cinema-or-in-tv-and-that-s/) [Sofia Vergara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vergara/) > [One of the first roles I had on stage was with a brilliant director in a brilliant play with a brilliant cast, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/one-of-the-first-roles-i-had-on-stage-was-with-a-brilliant-director/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I've never thought of myself as a classic leading man. I'm a character actor who happens to play leading roles. Come on, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-classic-leading-man-i-m-a-character/) [James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/) > [I was never really a character actor - I was a leading man who was always cast as a character. I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shaw/i-was-never-really-a-character-actor-i-was-a-leading-man-who-was/) [Robert Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shaw/) > [I'm a character actor. Nobody's ever seemed to think of me as a leading man. I'm 6'6''. I've got a big nose. I'm gangly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cromwell/i-m-a-character-actor-nobody-s-ever-seemed-to-think-of-me-as-a/) [James Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cromwell/) > [I was never a leading man. I've always been in the outer concentric circles in the company, being a character actor, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/i-was-never-a-leading-man-i-ve-always-been-in-the-outer-concentric/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [The ability to stretch my range into all genres and characters is something I take great pleasure in doing. I thoroughly enjoy it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tee/the-ability-to-stretch-my-range-into-all-genres-and-characters-is/) [Brian Tee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tee/) > [Fortunately and unfortunately, people don't see me as a character actor. They see me as a leading man or nothing, which makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-holloway/fortunately-and-unfortunately-people-don-t-see-me-as-a-character/) [Josh Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-holloway/) > [I'm a character actor, but I look like a leading man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-character-actor-but-i-look-like-a-leading-man/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I have a problem with the term 'leading man.' It's so limiting; it involves not upsetting anyone. Obviously, we have anti-heroes now, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmi-simpson/i-have-a-problem-with-the-term-leading-man-it-s-so-limiting-it/) [Jimmi Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmi-simpson/) > [I haven't aged into a character actor. I'm an old leading man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-granger/i-haven-t-aged-into-a-character-actor-i-m-an-old-leading-man/) [Stewart Granger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-granger/) ## More by Robert Picardo > [For two consecutive Broadway seasons, I had probably the best juvenile roles there were for an actor. Then I moved to California to recreate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/for-two-consecutive-broadway-seasons-i-had-probably-the-best-juvenile/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [If you're looking at my other major science fiction roles - the Doctor on 'Star Trek' and certainly Woolsey on 'Stargate' - I often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/if-you-re-looking-at-my-other-major-science-fiction-roles-the-doctor/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [It was hard to make a living as an actor in New York if you did not do soap operas or commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/it-was-hard-to-make-a-living-as-an-actor-in-new-york-if-you-did-not/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [Even though my face has gotten more familiar with doing 'China Beach' and 'The Wonder Years,' I'm the kind of actor that people thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/even-though-my-face-has-gotten-more-familiar-with-doing-china-beach/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [Nobody wants to play - I've talked to Brent Spiner about this. You don't want to play a character indefinitely who's not supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/nobody-wants-to-play-i-ve-talked-to-brent-spiner-about-this-you-don-t/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [We were second-generation immigrants, and it was luxury enough to go to college. The luxury of the arts was still a generation away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/we-were-second-generation-immigrants-and-it-was-luxury-enough-to-go/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [The fact that we were encouraged to follow our conscience and not to follow the crowds - that's something I really miss. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/the-fact-that-we-were-encouraged-to-follow-our-conscience-and-not-to/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [The best way to tell an actor he's going to be working more and much harder is to appeal to his ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/the-best-way-to-tell-an-actor-he-s-going-to-be-working-more-and-much/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [People admire a screen actor if they have theatre skills, but it's looked down upon by the industry as being not a 'real job,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/people-admire-a-screen-actor-if-they-have-theatre-skills-but-it-s/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [My agent loves me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/my-agent-loves-me/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [You play a hologram on 'Star Trek,' and you have to spew line after line. I spoke in paragraphs on 'Star Trek.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/you-play-a-hologram-on-star-trek-and-you-have-to-spew-line-after-line/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [What's wonderful about 'Star Trek' having been rebooted so successfully by the J. J. Abrams movie franchise is that - the corollary effect is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/what-s-wonderful-about-star-trek-having-been-rebooted-so-successfully/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [For me, the ideal job as an actor would be something that is intrinsically a drama but to which I could bring in as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/for-me-the-ideal-job-as-an-actor-would-be-something-that-is/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [Why wouldn't I like to walk into a room full of people who are dying to hear everything I say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/why-wouldn-t-i-like-to-walk-into-a-room-full-of-people-who-are-dying/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [I'm not a futurist, and my taste in science fiction was sort of in the gothic horror vein, not space movies and futuristic stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/i-m-not-a-futurist-and-my-taste-in-science-fiction-was-sort-of-in-the/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) [Explore all 57 Robert Picardo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [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/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) [Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and had the whole 'China Beach' years where I really played a leading man on that. 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