--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An actor doesn't have a regular job. He…" description: "\"An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.\" — Van Heflin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/van-heflin-7784_actor_an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-i_3663.png" --- # An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon… ![“An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.” quote by Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/van-heflin-7784_actor_an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-i_3663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/van-heflin-7784_actor_an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-i_3663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/van-heflin-7784_actor_an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-i_3663.png) > “An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.” [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor's livelihood depends on external casting decisions, making his career inherently unstable. **In simple terms:** Acting is role‑dependent work Key Takeaway Income tied to opportunity Themes gig economy creative labor uncertainty network reliance Mood pragmatic reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - freelance negotiation - career planning - skill diversification Key Concepts employment volatility talent markets portfolio careers Practical Applications - advising performers on financial resilience - building talent marketplaces Questions to Reflect On - How can actors mitigate income volatility? - What structures could stabilize creative work? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-doesn/) [Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent/) [Dependent Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent-roles-279879/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-dependent-279880/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-given-279878/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [My films and roles have given me a special place in the hearts of people. I am aware that it is a huge responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/my-films-and-roles-have-given-me-a-special-place-in-the-hearts-of/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [Honestly, I'm willing to experiment with far more variety in roles than I'm given. But ultimately, it's the producer's decision. But, I've done a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/honestly-i-m-willing-to-experiment-with-far-more-variety-in-roles/) [Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/) > [I learned to act reactively very well because those were the sorts of roles I was given for 20 years. It was hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-mimieux/i-learned-to-act-reactively-very-well-because-those-were-the-sorts-of/) [Yvette Mimieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-mimieux/) > [The hard part of not working is occupying the mind. If an actor doesn't work, he grows stale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/the-hard-part-of-not-working-is-occupying-the-mind-if-an-actor-doesn/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [“Practically speaking, when I mix up my roles at any given stage of life with my ultimate identity, I end up in idolatry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-alsup/practically-speaking-when-i-mix-up-my-roles-at-any-given-stage-of/) [Wendy Alsup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-alsup/) > [My roles have given me a lot of satisfaction. I became many individuals who were so different from me and whose experiences were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/my-roles-have-given-me-a-lot-of-satisfaction-i-became-many/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [Manoj Bajpayee is a husband, a father, and an actor. He doesn't see his life beyond that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/manoj-bajpayee-is-a-husband-a-father-and-an-actor-he-doesn-t-see-his/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [Tony Blair is like an actor who doesn't really believe in his script himself but has the incredible skill to make everyone else believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/tony-blair-is-like-an-actor-who-doesn-t-really-believe-in-his-script/) [Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/) > [It's important that the actor doesn't feel like they're working in a vacuum. If the actor is told, 'Oh, it's a secret; just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/it-s-important-that-the-actor-doesn-t-feel-like-they-re-working-in-a/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [The difference between being an actor and a director is simple. The director has to hide his panic; the actor doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/the-difference-between-being-an-actor-and-a-director-is-simple-the/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn't dare to make an enemy should get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-do-not-regret-one-professional-enemy-i-have-made-any-actor-who/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The thing is, I love a great death scene - no good actor doesn't. Sorry, any actor, I should say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/the-thing-is-i-love-a-great-death-scene-no-good-actor-doesn-t-sorry/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [I think that's as far as you have to think, everything happens as a coincidence. It either happens or it doesn't. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/i-think-that-s-as-far-as-you-have-to-think-everything-happens-as-a/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [There is some information that an actor doesn't need, and that's okay. I can't control everything. I don't want to control everything. Sometimes, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/there-is-some-information-that-an-actor-doesn-t-need-and-that-s-okay/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [Nothing is harder than working with an actor who doesn't take it seriously or show up in the same way that you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/nothing-is-harder-than-working-with-an-actor-who-doesn-t-take-it/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) ## More by Van Heflin > [You must remember that I won an Oscar for my role Johnny Eager. Then I went into the Army. But before I did, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/you-must-remember-that-i-won-an-oscar-for-my-role-johnny-eager-then-i/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I have enough money for myself and my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-have-enough-money-for-myself-and-my-children/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I don't want to work too hard any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-don-t-want-to-work-too-hard-any-more/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [When I was a very young actor, I made a wise move. I invested in the stock market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/when-i-was-a-very-young-actor-i-made-a-wise-move-i-invested-in-the/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [What I like about the independent field is that an actor can pick his roles and his stories and do them without anyone always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/what-i-like-about-the-independent-field-is-that-an-actor-can-pick-his/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Being under contract gives you financial and emotional security. But you lose the sense of accomplishment that goes hand in hand with being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/being-under-contract-gives-you-financial-and-emotional-security-but/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Most fellows learned something about dressing in college. But my fraternity made me stay in the basement whenever we gave a dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/most-fellows-learned-something-about-dressing-in-college-but-my/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I can sit on a boat or a river bank and problems that seemed insurmountable just don't seem that important anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-can-sit-on-a-boat-or-a-river-bank-and-problems-that-seemed/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I certainly don't approve of American actors who go to Europe and run down Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-certainly-don-t-approve-of-american-actors-who-go-to-europe-and-run/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Every film is a comeback, no matter what I did the last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/every-film-is-a-comeback-no-matter-what-i-did-the-last-time/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I don't think it's fair to a family to uproot them simply because it's profitable for you to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-don-t-think-it-s-fair-to-a-family-to-uproot-them-simply-because-it/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I believe all conscientious actors feel the same way - that there is too much hurry-scurry in TV to permit a sufficient amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-believe-all-conscientious-actors-feel-the-same-way-that-there-is/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [You have to be careful of the pictures you make. You should ask, Will it have universal appeal, will it have an appeal at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/you-have-to-be-careful-of-the-pictures-you-make-you-should-ask-will/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Let's face it. I'm not a personality or the handsome actor type. When you have those God-given assets, you don't have to worry if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/let-s-face-it-i-m-not-a-personality-or-the-handsome-actor-type-when/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I'm happy for all the small things a man never gets around to putting his finger on - the things we take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-m-happy-for-all-the-small-things-a-man-never-gets-around-to-putting/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) [Explore all 87 Van Heflin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) ## 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. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An actor doesn't have a regular job. 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