---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever an actor was going to die, I…"
description: "\"Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them understand not to take it personally. It wasn't about them. It's the story.\" — Wendell Pierce"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg"
---

#  Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them…

![“Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them understand not to take it personally. It wasn't about them. It's the story.” quote by Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg)

> “Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them understand not to take it personally. It wasn't about them. It's the story.”

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Actors should separate personal identity from fictional death; the story matters more than personal impact.

**In simple terms:** Detach self from character’s fate.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize narrative integrity.

Themes

acting storytelling psychology professionalism

Mood

thoughtful supportive

Type

educational reflective

When to use this quote

- theatre
- film production
- creative workshops
- mental health support

Key Concepts

identity empathy craft

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you maintain personal boundaries in performance?
- What techniques help separate self from role?

A Different Perspective

Emotional detachment can be challenging for some actors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/)

## Related quotes

> [It's hard to let the person understand if they personally don't want to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/it-s-hard-to-let-the-person-understand-if-they-personally-don-t-want/)

[Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/)

> [“I’ve tried to figure it out. When we were children we lived in a story that we made up. But when I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-ve-tried-to-figure-it-out-when-we-were-children-we-lived-in-a-story-2/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [A lot of it was, you know, you look for moments where, for instance, we were dependent on Abraham Lincoln making sure that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/a-lot-of-it-was-you-know-you-look-for-moments-where-for-instance-we/)

[Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/)

> [I left 'Fast and Furious' because I just felt like, at a certain point, after number six, there wasn't another story that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-left-fast-and-furious-because-i-just-felt-like-at-a-certain-point/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

> [The best way to tell an actor he's going to be working more and much harder is to appeal to his ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/the-best-way-to-tell-an-actor-he-s-going-to-be-working-more-and-much/)

[Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/)

> [I'm not the kind of actor who's going to fit well with a long-running series unless that series offers me the chance to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-m-not-the-kind-of-actor-who-s-going-to-fit-well-with-a-long-running/)

[Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/)

> [Apparently Jamie is great at being soft and hard at the same time. Which is hard to do for an actor! He's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-marcel/apparently-jamie-is-great-at-being-soft-and-hard-at-the-same-time/)

Kelly Marcel

> [We all have ups and downs in our career, and as an actor going through a rough patch, all I can do is keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-kiran/we-all-have-ups-and-downs-in-our-career-and-as-an-actor-going-through/)

[Uday Kiran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-kiran/)

> [When you change a lead actor, everything's going to change - but you can rest assured he's going to absolutely smash it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/when-you-change-a-lead-actor-everything-s-going-to-change-but-you-can/)

[Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/)

> [I'm going to be a better actor, or I'm going to try to be a better actor. I'm going to try to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/i-m-going-to-be-a-better-actor-or-i-m-going-to-try-to-be-a-better/)

[Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/)

> [I was living in London and I thought, 'There's nothing here for me anymore.' I don't want to become this actor who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-was-living-in-london-and-i-thought-there-s-nothing-here-for-me/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [For better or worse, I don't necessarily categorize myself as a method actor; I'm not going to make claims that I stayed in character 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/for-better-or-worse-i-don-t-necessarily-categorize-myself-as-a-method/)

[Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/)

> [Realistically, looks offer an advantage to an actor. I'm going to work hard to maintain my skin. I'm going to prevent aging as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/song-joong-ki/realistically-looks-offer-an-advantage-to-an-actor-i-m-going-to-work/)

[Song Joong-ki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/song-joong-ki/)

> [Being a working actor, you're going to do a Spelling show. It's hard not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casper-van-dien/being-a-working-actor-you-re-going-to-do-a-spelling-show-it-s-hard/)

[Casper Van Dien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casper-van-dien/)

> [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/)

## More by Wendell Pierce

> [Gregory Hines was the most talented man I've ever met or seen. Gregory Hines is one of those people that whenever he talked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/gregory-hines-was-the-most-talented-man-i-ve-ever-met-or-seen-gregory/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [My father was so against me becoming an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/my-father-was-so-against-me-becoming-an-actor/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [One of the great things my grandparents and grandparents taught me was, there are those who don't have your best interests at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/one-of-the-great-things-my-grandparents-and-grandparents-taught-me/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [Be your true self. Because if you're not, there are consequences to be paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/be-your-true-self-because-if-you-re-not-there-are-consequences-to-be/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [Your actions are not in a vacuum. They impact other people. It may be in a way that's less obvious than in mainstream movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/your-actions-are-not-in-a-vacuum-they-impact-other-people-it-may-be/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [I played trumpet for about two weeks. Sixth grade. And I didn't practice. Maybe a little longer than two weeks, but I didn't practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-played-trumpet-for-about-two-weeks-sixth-grade-and-i-didn-t/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [My mother was a teacher for 40 years. She was part of the United Teachers of New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/my-mother-was-a-teacher-for-40-years-she-was-part-of-the-united/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [New Orleans, more than many places I know, actually tangibly lives its culture. It's not just a residual of life; it's a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/new-orleans-more-than-many-places-i-know-actually-tangibly-lives-its/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [The Wire' really is an American classic, and I think that's something to be very proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/the-wire-really-is-an-american-classic-and-i-think-that-s-something/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [When you're doing comedy on stage, it's great because you have the audience there and they're like another actor in the scene. You feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/when-you-re-doing-comedy-on-stage-it-s-great-because-you-have-the/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [I consider myself a journeyman actor, and I pride myself and look forward to keeping my career choices as diverse as possible because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-consider-myself-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-pride-myself-and-look/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [I'm a multitasker, and I kind of like it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-m-a-multitasker-and-i-kind-of-like-it-that-way/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [That is the heart and soul of the American dream, homeownership, the idea of being able to buy a house and start to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/that-is-the-heart-and-soul-of-the-american-dream-homeownership-the/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [The people of Baltimore are great. I love Baltimore. What I looked forward to, every year, was getting a new apartment in a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/the-people-of-baltimore-are-great-i-love-baltimore-what-i-looked/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

> [There's no greater honor, as an actor, to be a part of a project that changes lives, and awakens and enlightens and entertains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/there-s-no-greater-honor-as-an-actor-to-be-a-part-of-a-project-that/)

[Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

[Explore all 64 Wendell Pierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/)

## 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": "Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them understand not to take it personally. It wasn't about them. It's the story.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wendell Pierce"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tried-to-help-them-understand/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tried-to-help-them-understand/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wendell-pierce-10681_actor_whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tri_2987565.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whenever an actor was going to die, I tried to help them understand not to take it personally. It wasn't…” — Wendell Pierce",
                "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": "Wendell Pierce",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whenever an actor was going to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tried-to-help-them-understand/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/whenever-an-actor-was-going-to-die-i-tried-to-help-them-understand/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
