--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could play a cop, I could play a crook…" description: "\"I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an art critic-I could play the guy next door. I a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/walter-matthau-17641_art_i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook_1566741.jpg" --- # I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a… ![“I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an art critic-I could play the guy next door. I am the guy next door. I could play Catholic, Jewish, Protestant. As a matter of fact, when I did The Odd Couple, I would do it a different way each…” quote by Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/walter-matthau-17641_art_i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook_1566741.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/walter-matthau-17641_art_i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook_1566741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/walter-matthau-17641_art_i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook_1566741.jpg) > “I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an art critic-I could play the guy next door. I am the guy next door. I could play Catholic, Jewish, Protestant. As a matter of fact, when I did The Odd Couple, I would do it a different way each night. On Monday I'd be Jewish, Tuesday Italian, Wednesday Irish-German-and I would mix them up. I did that to amuse myself, and it always worked.” [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 describes his ability to adopt many roles and identities, using variety to keep performances fresh and entertaining. **In simple terms:** He enjoys playing many different characters to stay lively. Key Takeaway Embrace versatility in your work. Themes creativity identity performance adaptability Mood playful energetic Type inspirational humorous When to use this quote - theatre - film - television - improvisational comedy Key Concepts method acting role diversity improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How does changing roles affect your sense of self? - When is consistency more valuable than variety? A Different Perspective May become typecast or lose authenticity if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-critic/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Crooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crooks/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Odd couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-couple/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Protestants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestants/) [Wednesday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wednesday/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not a lawyer, but I play one in my novel COPYRIGHT. I also play a serial rapist, a drug addict, a teenage boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lesko/i-m-not-a-lawyer-but-i-play-one-in-my-novel-copyright-i-also-play-a/) [Lori Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lesko/) > [People have said I can come off a little trial-lawyerish. I tell people I never actually became a lawyer, but I play one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/people-have-said-i-can-come-off-a-little-trial-lawyerish-i-tell/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-part-that-will-combine-his/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I always seem to love the shows with cops. I really want to play a cop - I want a badge and a gun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-richards/i-always-seem-to-love-the-shows-with-cops-i-really-want-to-play-a-cop/) [Kyle Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-richards/) > [As an actor, I can still play a cop, but the bullets are fake, I don't have to get injured, and I'm not faced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/titus-welliver/as-an-actor-i-can-still-play-a-cop-but-the-bullets-are-fake-i-don-t/) [Titus Welliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/titus-welliver/) > [Yes, I play a cop in Amit Kumar's 'Monsoon Shootout' where Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-kabi/yes-i-play-a-cop-in-amit-kumar-s-monsoon-shootout-where-nawazuddin/) [Neeraj Kabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-kabi/) > [I've always had a desire to play a cop or FBI agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-helfer/i-ve-always-had-a-desire-to-play-a-cop-or-fbi-agent/) [Tricia Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-helfer/) > [When you play a cop, it's a different feeling altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/when-you-play-a-cop-it-s-a-different-feeling-altogether/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) > [If I play a cop, it's always a racist cop or a trigger-happy cop or a crooked cop - but by and large I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-gainey/if-i-play-a-cop-it-s-always-a-racist-cop-or-a-trigger-happy-cop-or-a/) [M. C. Gainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-gainey/) > [I love cop shows and crime books and thrillers, and before I die I'm gonna play a cop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-love-cop-shows-and-crime-books-and-thrillers-and-before-i-die-i-m/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I don't know if I'm able to play a cop for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaniehtiio-horn/i-don-t-know-if-i-m-able-to-play-a-cop-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Kaniehtiio Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaniehtiio-horn/) > [It's an interesting situation to be in to play a cop on TV and to know so many police officers through our training and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-soffer/it-s-an-interesting-situation-to-be-in-to-play-a-cop-on-tv-and-to/) [Jesse Lee Soffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-soffer/) > [With a face like this, there aren't a lot of lawyers or priest roles coming my way. I've gotta face that was meant for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-gainey/with-a-face-like-this-there-aren-t-a-lot-of-lawyers-or-priest-roles/) [M. C. Gainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-gainey/) > [I've always wanted to play a cop, desperately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-crome/i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-a-cop-desperately/) [Karla Crome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-crome/) > [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/) ## 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/) > [Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-part-that-will-combine-his/) [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/) > [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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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