--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there are probably a handful of…" description: "\"I think there are probably a handful of real character actors in this business. The rest of us are recycling. So now I'm Sam Malone the editor. I'm Sam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/ted-danson-6752_actor_i-think-there-are-probably-a-handful-of_2689744.jpg" --- # I think there are probably a handful of real character… ![“I think there are probably a handful of real character actors in this business. The rest of us are recycling. So now I'm Sam Malone the editor. I'm Sam Malone the billionaire.” quote by Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/ted-danson-6752_actor_i-think-there-are-probably-a-handful-of_2689744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/ted-danson-6752_actor_i-think-there-are-probably-a-handful-of_2689744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/ted-danson-6752_actor_i-think-there-are-probably-a-handful-of_2689744.jpg) > “I think there are probably a handful of real character actors in this business. The rest of us are recycling. So now I'm Sam Malone the editor. I'm Sam Malone the billionaire.” [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on authenticity in acting, noting few genuine talents versus many who recycle roles, and humorously imagines himself as a successful editor and billionaire. **In simple terms:** Few true actors; most recycle roles; speaker jokes about success. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity, not imitation. Themes authenticity career self‑image Mood thoughtful light‑hearted Type reflective humorous When to use this quote - casting decisions - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts acting identity success humor Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - How can you avoid recycling personas? A Different Perspective Self‑delusion can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-business-1356658/) [Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Editor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editor/) [Editor Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editor-sam-2648062/) [Handful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handful/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Malone Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malone-billionaire-2648061/) [Malone Editor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malone-editor-2648063/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-character/) [Recycling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recycling/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sam/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [I also want the chance to work with some of the best actors in the business, because that's where you can learn so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/i-also-want-the-chance-to-work-with-some-of-the-best-actors-in-the/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [One of the reasons a lot of actors go into the business is that for a short period of time, you get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/one-of-the-reasons-a-lot-of-actors-go-into-the-business-is-that-for-a/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [When you work as actors in this business, you spend a lot of time apart. 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And that informed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/my-job-playing-sam-malone-was-to-let-the-audience-in-to-love-my-bar/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [The pressure isn't on my brain, but on my mouth. I realized Sam Malone said very little, he spoke in little sentences. Which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-pressure-isn-t-on-my-brain-but-on-my-mouth-i-realized-sam-malone/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [“In these aspirations, much more than in deliberate, rational coordinated ideas, is the real character of a man to be found. Our chimeras are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-these-aspirations-much-more-than-in-deliberate-rational/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Among the numerous stratagems by which pride endeavors to recommend folly to regard, there is scarcely one that meets with less success than affectation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-numerous-stratagems-by-which-pride-endeavors-to-recommend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In dreams we see ourselves naked and acting out our real characters, even more clearly than we see others awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-dreams-we-see-ourselves-naked-and-acting-out-our-real-characters-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [TV is a safe place to develop real characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-is-a-safe-place-to-develop-real-characters/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [“I love to share my problems with friends. They think I'm revealing my personal life, but I'm actually revealing theirs. What a person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-love-to-share-my-problems-with-friends-they-think-i-m-revealing-my/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Real religion is about, developing real character; character of compassion, character of humility, the character of determination to grow in all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/real-religion-is-about-developing-real-character-character-of/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [I am used to experiencing so much trauma, that when I see it, I have to speak out. I don't think rappers have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/i-am-used-to-experiencing-so-much-trauma-that-when-i-see-it-i-have-to/) [JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/) > [The earth endured Christ's ministry only three years;--not three weeks after his real character and purposes were generally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-earth-endured-christ-s-ministry-only-three-years-not-three-weeks/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## More by Ted Danson > [To grow up knowing you're loved is astounding. It's a huge gift to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/to-grow-up-knowing-you-re-loved-is-astounding-it-s-a-huge-gift-to-a/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [If you actively do something, it will stop making you feel like a victim and you'll start feeling like part of the solution, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/if-you-actively-do-something-it-will-stop-making-you-feel-like-a/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I don't think it's a matter of, do you win the game or not, it's how gracefully do you play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-matter-of-do-you-win-the-game-or-not-it-s-how/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [The environmental movement, like all political processes, reacts best to disasters. But these are very slow, very gradual disasters in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-environmental-movement-like-all-political-processes-reacts-best/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [Centuries-old habitats such as coral gardens are destroyed in an instant by bottom trawls, pulverized by weighted nets into barren plains. And global carbon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/centuries-old-habitats-such-as-coral-gardens-are-destroyed-in-an/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [The pressure isn't on my brain, but on my mouth. I realized Sam Malone said very little, he spoke in little sentences. Which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-pressure-isn-t-on-my-brain-but-on-my-mouth-i-realized-sam-malone/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I became interested in ocean issues in the 1980s when I couldn't take my daughters swimming because of pollution at our local beach. Twenty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-became-interested-in-ocean-issues-in-the-1980s-when-i-couldn-t-take/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I think the struggle, whenever you make a film or television movie based on a real person's life, is finding a dramatic arc that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-think-the-struggle-whenever-you-make-a-film-or-television-movie/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I am forever grateful for 'Cheers.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-am-forever-grateful-for-cheers/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I feel very strongly that you can't just beat people up anymore; you have to work hand in hand and find ways to compromise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-feel-very-strongly-that-you-can-t-just-beat-people-up-anymore-you/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I was at our beautiful home in Martha's Vineyard, near Boston, sitting on the porch looking at the ocean when I got a phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-was-at-our-beautiful-home-in-martha-s-vineyard-near-boston-sitting/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [You have to be an optimist, right? You have to be critical, then you have to be an optimist. Or else you're really stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/you-have-to-be-an-optimist-right-you-have-to-be-critical-then-you/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I am a bit of a Pollyanna - I spend most of my day happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/i-am-a-bit-of-a-pollyanna-i-spend-most-of-my-day-happy/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [Around year seven or eight, you'd kill yourself when you realized Norm had to enter and you had to come up with a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/around-year-seven-or-eight-you-d-kill-yourself-when-you-realized-norm/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [There should be a list of people who can and cannot clone themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/there-should-be-a-list-of-people-who-can-and-cannot-clone-themselves/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) [Explore all 97 Ted Danson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. 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