--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm an actor first and foremost, who…" description: "\"I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.\" — Wayne Brady" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg" --- # I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv… ![“I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.” quote by Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg) > “I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.” [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) ## 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 primary identity is acting; improv is a skill among many. **In simple terms:** Acting first, improv is a tool. Key Takeaway Prioritize core craft. Themes career performance improvisation Mood enthusiastic practical Type professional motivational When to use this quote - audition preparation - workshop teaching - creative brainstorming Key Concepts identity skill diversification stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - How does improv enhance acting? - When should improv be secondary? A Different Perspective Improvisation may distract from main goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Foremost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-foremost-1283964/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Improv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-improv-2345572/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Sitcoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcoms/) [Sitcoms Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcoms-ve-1330757/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I do miss the rhythms of comedy. And I've never been able to perform very well without an audience. The sitcoms I've done had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-do-miss-the-rhythms-of-comedy-and-i-ve-never-been-able-to-perform/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I get approached to do shows all the time. There's a lot of money in sitcoms, but I've never been the kind of guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/i-get-approached-to-do-shows-all-the-time-there-s-a-lot-of-money-in/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [What happens in improv is you create your own storyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/what-happens-in-improv-is-you-create-your-own-storyline/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [Television is a powerful medium that has to be used for something better than sitcoms and police shows. On the other hand, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roone-arledge/television-is-a-powerful-medium-that-has-to-be-used-for-something/) [Roone Arledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roone-arledge/) > [Definitely not a sitcom, that's my first condition. No sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-elizondo/definitely-not-a-sitcom-that-s-my-first-condition-no-sitcoms/) [Hector Elizondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-elizondo/) > [I loved doing sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-loved-doing-sitcoms/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I love sitcoms, and I grew up on sitcoms. That's my tasty junk food. So I wanted to create a sitcom and have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-day/i-love-sitcoms-and-i-grew-up-on-sitcoms-that-s-my-tasty-junk-food-so/) [Felicia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-day/) > [We kinda hated sitcoms when we sat down and talked about this. We wanted to do something that was in the sitcom vain but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/we-kinda-hated-sitcoms-when-we-sat-down-and-talked-about-this-we/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [There was a time when I couldn't watch sitcoms for a while because it was just cacophony, it was just noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-rashad/there-was-a-time-when-i-couldn-t-watch-sitcoms-for-a-while-because-it/) [Phylicia Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-rashad/) > [If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-doing-theater-that-would-be-my/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I like to say that I was raised by sitcoms, and that my personality is comprised of different characters. Darlene from Roseanne, Denise from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thao-nguyen/i-like-to-say-that-i-was-raised-by-sitcoms-and-that-my-personality-is/) [Thao Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thao-nguyen/) > [More teenagers go to movies or rent a tape of a movie than sit down and watch sitcoms on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-cohn/more-teenagers-go-to-movies-or-rent-a-tape-of-a-movie-than-sit-down/) [Mindy Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-cohn/) > [I grew up on network sitcoms. If those are gone when I'm 65 years old, I would never forgive myself for not stepping up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-grew-up-on-network-sitcoms-if-those-are-gone-when-i-m-65-years-old/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I mean, sitcoms shouldn't be doing 'Saturday Night Live.' You can't just do bit after bit after bit. You have to string it together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-dewitt/i-mean-sitcoms-shouldn-t-be-doing-saturday-night-live-you-can-t-just/) [Joyce DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-dewitt/) ## More by Wayne Brady > [Work is the thing that happens around the game time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/work-is-the-thing-that-happens-around-the-game-time/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [ One of my personal favorites \[potential guests\] would be Darren Criss from GLEE. I think that guy is so talented, and he’s fast. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/one-of-my-personal-favorites-potential-guests-would-be-darren-criss/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I love Saturday morning cartoons. What do you like to do on a Saturday morning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-love-saturday-morning-cartoons-what-do-you-like-to-do-on-a-saturday/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [My mom didn't let me play video games growing up, so now I do. Gaming gives me a chance to just let go, blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/my-mom-didn-t-let-me-play-video-games-growing-up-so-now-i-do-gaming/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I want the single player experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-want-the-single-player-experience/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I'm just happy that a couple folks still know my name, and that I'm still able to sell out venues when I perform live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-m-just-happy-that-a-couple-folks-still-know-my-name-and-that-i-m/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [Theatre sports is the best improv training period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/theatre-sports-is-the-best-improv-training-period/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I didn't know that I could do a talk show. I didn't know that we could bring variety to daytime. I didn't know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-do-a-talk-show-i-didn-t-know-that-we-could/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I was teased horribly as a child and beaten up a lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-was-teased-horribly-as-a-child-and-beaten-up-a-lot/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I always thought that common sense would prevail. But on a game show, there is no common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-always-thought-that-common-sense-would-prevail-but-on-a-game-show/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [Cancelled isn't a bad word because it happens everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/cancelled-isn-t-a-bad-word-because-it-happens-everyday/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [You can't please everyone. Just because I don't behave a certain way, some folks will say you don't have any street cred. I've pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/you-can-t-please-everyone-just-because-i-don-t-behave-a-certain-way/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) > [I like to be left alone when I'm not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-like-to-be-left-alone-when-i-m-not-working/) [Wayne Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) [Explore all 14 Wayne Brady quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/) ## 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": "I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wayne Brady" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happens-to-do-improv-i-ve-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happens-to-do-improv-i-ve-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/wayne-brady-34008_actors_i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happ_1254735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.” — Wayne Brady", "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": "Wayne Brady", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-brady/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm an actor first and foremost,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happens-to-do-improv-i-ve-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-brady/i-m-an-actor-first-and-foremost-who-happens-to-do-improv-i-ve-also/#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 } } ] } ```