--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I turned 30 and decided if I was going to…" description: "\"I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at 50.\" — Ted Cassidy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg" --- # I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had… ![“I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at 50.” quote by Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg) > “I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at 50.” [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. At 30, I decided to pursue acting or risk staying in a desk job by 50. **In simple terms:** Decide to act now or stay stuck later. Key Takeaway Take bold steps toward your passion early. Themes career risk passion Mood motivational determined Type career self‑help When to use this quote - career change - creative pursuits - personal development - financial planning Key Concepts life choices midlife transition Questions to Reflect On - What passion will you pursue? - How will you manage risk? A Different Perspective Fear of failure may hold you back. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [30 Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/30-decided-4989326/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-better-510535/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Try Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-acting-1271241/) [Turned 30](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-30-829418/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't only play Lurch. I also was 'Thing,' the hand that came up and on-camera every now and then. You should try acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-didn-t-only-play-lurch-i-also-was-thing-the-hand-that-came-up-and/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks with you for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old-when-you-say-something-and/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [The better the actor I am acting with, the better my performance gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/the-better-the-actor-i-am-acting-with-the-better-my-performance-gets/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [I just want to keep acting and better my craft and see how far it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-just-want-to-keep-acting-and-better-my-craft-and-see-how-far-it-goes/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [I like the community of acting better than the prison of writing. I like sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-like-the-community-of-acting-better-than-the-prison-of-writing-i/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [There's probably no one who understands Method acting better academically than I do, or actually uses it more in his work. But it's funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/there-s-probably-no-one-who-understands-method-acting-better/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I've never changed my approach to acting. I've always felt like I've gotten better. I think that all of us can get better. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-ve-never-changed-my-approach-to-acting-i-ve-always-felt-like-i-ve/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [The less acting you have to do, the better, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-less-acting-you-have-to-do-the-better-i-think/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-acting-is-better-when-you-know-your-material-is-being-judged/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I was cursed with age, really. You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-was-cursed-with-age-really-you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [After 'Amen' people started recognising me. It made me think that acting is better than direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mathew/after-amen-people-started-recognising-me-it-made-me-think-that-acting/) [Joy Mathew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mathew/) > [I love acting better than anything, and I do it better than anything else I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchata-ferrell/i-love-acting-better-than-anything-and-i-do-it-better-than-anything/) [Conchata Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchata-ferrell/) > [I turned 30 as a janitor. I was thinking at the time that Hank Williams died when he was 29. All my peers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-turned-30-as-a-janitor-i-was-thinking-at-the-time-that-hank/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I've turned 30 now and, although there will always be a bit of the rock chick in me, I'm trying to embrace my softer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harding/i-ve-turned-30-now-and-although-there-will-always-be-a-bit-of-the/) [Sarah Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harding/) ## More by Ted Cassidy > [Whenever I'd find myself talking to someone in the kitchen of their home, I'd automatically rest my arm on the refrigerator, simply because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/whenever-i-d-find-myself-talking-to-someone-in-the-kitchen-of-their/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [It was nice to be working steadily and piling up some money in the bank but there really wasn't much to do except walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/it-was-nice-to-be-working-steadily-and-piling-up-some-money-in-the/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I did play semi-pro ball for a time. It was the line of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-did-play-semi-pro-ball-for-a-time-it-was-the-line-of-least/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [Getting Lurch's character straightened out was fun because I was brand new to professional film acting. I had only been in radio up till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/getting-lurch-s-character-straightened-out-was-fun-because-i-was/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [It's not enough to be 6 feet 9 to get along in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/it-s-not-enough-to-be-6-feet-9-to-get-along-in-this-world/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [You will probably be hearing more about this schoolboy. His name is Wilt Chamberlain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/you-will-probably-be-hearing-more-about-this-schoolboy-his-name-is/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [It doesn't matter if you're big and tall or ugly or pretty. Deep inside, every actor wants to play Hamlet, at least I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-big-and-tall-or-ugly-or-pretty-deep/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I got to know the cast pretty well. Not so much Leonard Nimoy, I got to know William Shatner pretty well. They are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-got-to-know-the-cast-pretty-well-not-so-much-leonard-nimoy-i-got-to/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I was lucky. I missed the struggle. I don't feel I have to pay anyone back for the miserable years. I never had them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-was-lucky-i-missed-the-struggle-i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-pay-anyone/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [One doesn't take a day off from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/one-doesn-t-take-a-day-off-from-love/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [Crawling into someone's skin is what acting is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/crawling-into-someone-s-skin-is-what-acting-is-all-about/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I think kids like Lurch because he's kind of an earthbound superman. They know he's physically strong and they sense that he's a gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-think-kids-like-lurch-because-he-s-kind-of-an-earthbound-superman/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [I turned down a part in 'Petticoat Junction.' They wanted me to play a circus giant. I didn't want to take that step into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-down-a-part-in-petticoat-junction-they-wanted-me-to-play-a/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [Acting Is unlike any other profession in the world. It's a succession of jobs. When 'The Addams Family' ends, however good you may be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/acting-is-unlike-any-other-profession-in-the-world-it-s-a-succession/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [You know, I can't tell you that I'm very fond of anything I've done, including - and especially- 'The Addams Family.' That's an albatross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/you-know-i-can-t-tell-you-that-i-m-very-fond-of-anything-i-ve-done/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) [Explore all 30 Ted Cassidy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) ## 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 turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at 50.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Cassidy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-to-try-acting-i-had-better-try/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-to-try-acting-i-had-better-try/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/ted-cassidy-20969_acting_i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-t_2226170.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I turned 30 and decided if I was going to try acting I had better try or wind up still holding a desk job at…” — Ted Cassidy", "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": "Ted Cassidy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I turned 30 and decided if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-to-try-acting-i-had-better-try/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-turned-30-and-decided-if-i-was-going-to-try-acting-i-had-better-try/#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 } } ] } ```