Michael Madsen Quotes

Kids are a great excuse for you to stop acting like one.

Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else.

I don't have a boss . . . nobody tells me what to do.

Children recognize me from Free Willy (1993), and their parents recognize me from Reservoir Dogs (1992). The kids are, like, "There's Glen!" and the parents are, like, "Don't go near that guy!"

My career has been very strange. My career is like a heart monitor. I get involved in a good project now and then to keep things going. And then I make things that I work on that I hope are going to be good so I can make a living and keep a roof over the heads of those little monsters I have in my house.

Is it really selling out if it feeds your family?

Well, he's got a much bigger circus to play with, and he has a lot more financing available, and he has a lot more time available. I think that makes a huge difference. I think he instinctively knows how to make films and all the different ways that you can make stuff. He's very gadget-wise, and he's very smart about all the different things that are available to a filmmaker nowadays, and he makes very good use of them. He has a theater in his house, for God's sake. It has proper curtains on it and everything. It's pretty wild.

You kids shouldn't play so rough . . . somebody's gonna start crying.

I probably made a few pictures I shouldn't have done, but I have four sons and I have to pay the rent. If you have a decision to make about whether or not you can buy groceries at the market or whether or not you're going to make a bad movie, you're going to make a bad movie.

I've never been able to read for anything, and every time I have, I've never gotten the part. And I don't know why that is. I just can't. Reading or auditioning for something... It's like it's this mental block in my brain, and I just can't do it. But when people ask you to do stuff without making you go through that, it's a much more pleasant experience.

I've learned my lesson over the years about what to say and what not to say in interviews, that's for sure.

Well, one thing for sure, I won't be remembered for 'Free Willy.' Or maybe I will.

When you play a character that's someone real, when you're playing a true story, it's really great, 'cause you're not pretending to make up some silly thing.

Your children don't have to fear you to respect you.

I don't think I'm predominantly thought of as being a comedic actor.

You know, every movie you make can't be great, no matter who you are.