--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every actor looks all his life for a part…" description: "\"Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was the plutonium I nee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/walter-matthau-17641_actor_every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-par_670837.jpg" --- # Every actor looks all his life for a part that will… ![“Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was the plutonium I needed. It all started happening after that.” quote by Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/walter-matthau-17641_actor_every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-par_670837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/walter-matthau-17641_actor_every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-par_670837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/walter-matthau-17641_actor_every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-par_670837.jpg) > “Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was the plutonium I needed. It all started happening after that.” [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sought a role that matched his skills and character, finding a perfect fit that propelled his career. **In simple terms:** Finding a role that fits you boosts success. Key Takeaway Seek roles that align talent and personality. Themes career self‑discovery artistic fulfillment Mood reflective optimistic Type inspirational career‑focused When to use this quote - audition preparation - networking - career pivot - creative projects Key Concepts typecasting career breakthrough personal branding Questions to Reflect On - What role best reflects your unique strengths? - How can you create your own “plutonium” moment? A Different Perspective Success depends on timing and opportunity, not just talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Odd couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-couple/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Plutonium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plutonium/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays with me when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-neil-simon-plays-with-me-when-i/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [It's Charley's Aunt and The Odd Couple rolled into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-carr/it-s-charley-s-aunt-and-the-odd-couple-rolled-into-one/) Allan Carr > [They are two very different people. It's almost a modern-day 'Odd Couple,' if I had to characterize it, with the two of them portraying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-ostroff/they-are-two-very-different-people-it-s-almost-a-modern-day-odd/) [Dawn Ostroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-ostroff/) > [Im a huge fan of The Odd Couple, yes, and any comparisons to Tony Randall and or Jack Lemmon are completely welcome. I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/im-a-huge-fan-of-the-odd-couple-yes-and-any-comparisons-to-tony/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [I love dealing with drama. I'm drawn to the painful side of storytelling, more so. I feel like that's where you get the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-love-dealing-with-drama-i-m-drawn-to-the-painful-side-of/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook-i-could-play-a-lawyer-i-could/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Whenever any television actor looks up to me, I say I haven't done anything great; I just followed my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrunal-thakur/whenever-any-television-actor-looks-up-to-me-i-say-i-haven-t-done/) [Mrunal Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrunal-thakur/) > [The actor's physical type is the main consideration. It isn't and shouldn't be. Does the actor "look the part"? It is the simplest question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-clurman/the-actor-s-physical-type-is-the-main-consideration-it-isn-t-and/) [Harold Clurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-clurman/) > [The actor's physical type isn't and shouldn't be the main consideration. Does the actor look the part? It is the simplest question to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-clurman/the-actor-s-physical-type-isn-t-and-shouldn-t-be-the-main/) [Harold Clurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-clurman/) > [As a viewer, you can comment on an actor's looks, but don't target him/her. As it is, he/she may be battling certain physical, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-pendse/as-a-viewer-you-can-comment-on-an-actor-s-looks-but-don-t-target-him/) [Neha Pendse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-pendse/) > [You can be a really terrible actor - I won't mention any names - but, as long as you're good-looking, you can get by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-reeves/you-can-be-a-really-terrible-actor-i-won-t-mention-any-names-but-as/) [Vic Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-reeves/) > [I never saw myself as an actor. I neither had the looks nor the backing required to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/i-never-saw-myself-as-an-actor-i-neither-had-the-looks-nor-the/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [There are plenty of odd couple Congressmen who have roomed together on Capitol Hill, but I have never heard of a chief of staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/there-are-plenty-of-odd-couple-congressmen-who-have-roomed-together/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [I am like that guy on the 'Odd Couple,' and it is not the neat guy. I go into my room and find pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/i-am-like-that-guy-on-the-odd-couple-and-it-is-not-the-neat-guy-i-go/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [I really enjoyed Eddie Bracken. He told me a great story. He did The Odd Couple on Broadway, replacing Art Carney, and he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-really-enjoyed-eddie-bracken-he-told-me-a-great-story-he-did-the/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) ## More by Walter Matthau > [I still think I'm 28. I'm 73. I think I'm 28, though, except that I won't get into a fight with anybody because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-still-think-i-m-28-i-m-73-i-think-i-m-28-though-except-that-i-won-t/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [To be successful in show business, all you need are 50 good breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/to-be-successful-in-show-business-all-you-need-are-50-good-breaks/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I was playing Russell Long, the senator from Louisiana. I had 12 speech teachers watching me. All the other passengers on the airplane were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-was-playing-russell-long-the-senator-from-louisiana-i-had-12-speech/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Doing a movie is like eating five hundred canapes at a cocktail party - you're never really full. You don't feel as though you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/doing-a-movie-is-like-eating-five-hundred-canapes-at-a-cocktail-party/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I always had one ear offstage, listening for the call from the bookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-always-had-one-ear-offstage-listening-for-the-call-from-the-bookie/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I can relate to anything. I once played Macbeth. I got a lot of laughs, so I quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-can-relate-to-anything-i-once-played-macbeth-i-got-a-lot-of-laughs/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Sometimes it takes me six months before I find out what a line means, even if the writing is superficial... To do a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/sometimes-it-takes-me-six-months-before-i-find-out-what-a-line-means/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [You see, my father was a Catholic priest, Greek Orthodox, but I think he started out as a Jew, then he became a Catholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/you-see-my-father-was-a-catholic-priest-greek-orthodox-but-i-think-he/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [We're writing a book together. She just finished one. Did you read it? Among the Porcupines?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/we-re-writing-a-book-together-she-just-finished-one-did-you-read-it/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I have more talent in my smallest fart than you have in your entire body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-have-more-talent-in-my-smallest-fart-than-you-have-in-your-entire/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/my-doctor-gave-me-six-months-to-live-but-when-i-couldn-t-pay-the-bill/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/the-first-girl-you-go-to-bed-with-is-always-pretty/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [When I was about eighteen, I saw myself as a rather sensitive, delicate, poetic, romantic figure. And then I got into the Civilian Conservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/when-i-was-about-eighteen-i-saw-myself-as-a-rather-sensitive-delicate/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook-i-could-play-a-lawyer-i-could/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Why don't you do the world a favour. Pull your bottom lip up over your head and swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/why-don-t-you-do-the-world-a-favour-pull-your-bottom-lip-up-over-your/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) [Explore all 36 Walter Matthau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) ## 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. 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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. 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