Dennis Farina Quotes

Powerful Dennis Farina for Daily Growth

About Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina (February 29, 1944 – July 22, 2013) was an American actor, voice artist, and former Chicago police officer whose gritty realism and compelling presence captivated audiences in a variety of film and television roles. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Farina's working-class upbringing greatly influenced his acting career. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 to 1967, he returned to Chicago and began a career as a police officer. His experiences during this time would later provide him with a unique insight into criminal behavior, which he often drew upon in his acting roles. In 1981, at the age of 37, Farina decided to pursue acting full-time. He made his film debut in Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables" (1987) as a Chicago police officer, which he had previously been in real life. This role catapulted him into the limelight and opened doors for future projects. Farina became known for his portrayals of tough-guy characters in films such as "Get Shorty" (1995), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and "Outside Providence" (1999). He also had recurring roles on popular television shows like "Law & Order," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Entourage." In addition to his work in front of the camera, Farina lent his distinctive voice to video games, animated series, and documentaries. One of his most notable voice roles was as Joe in the popular video game franchise "Grand Theft Auto." Despite his success in Hollywood, Farina remained grounded and humble, crediting his blue-collar upbringing and time spent as a police officer for shaping his unique perspective on life. Tragically, he passed away in 2013 at the age of 69 after battling lung cancer. Dennis Farina's acting career spanned over three decades, leaving behind a lasting impact on both film and television. His gritty realism, authentic portrayals, and unforgettable performances continue to inspire a new generation of actors today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've never been a big believer in luck."

The quote by Dennis Farina, "I've never been a big believer in luck," suggests that he is someone who attributes his successes primarily to hard work, skill, or determination rather than attributing it to mere chance or luck. It implies a mindset of self-reliance and personal responsibility, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and effort over waiting for good fortune.

"I don't want to be the guy that says, 'Remember when I was on this show or that movie?'"

This quote by Dennis Farina reflects his humility and desire for a long-lasting career rather than being remembered solely for past achievements. He aims to continue growing as an actor and not be defined by specific roles or projects from his past, but rather for the body of work he will create in the future.

"The best thing about acting is I get paid for doing what I love."

This quote emphasizes the joy and satisfaction that comes from being able to make a living while pursuing one's passion, in this case, acting. It suggests that Dennis Farina deeply loved his profession as an actor and appreciated the financial compensation it provided, enabling him to continue doing what he cherished.

"Everybody wants to do drama and then all of a sudden they have a choice between a drama and a comedy, and they'll pick the comedy every time."

This quote suggests that people in the entertainment industry often express a preference for dramatic roles because they are seen as more serious or prestigious. However, when presented with the actual choice between a drama and a comedy, performers tend to choose comedies more frequently, possibly due to their appeal and the potential for greater audience enjoyment. This could indicate that while people appreciate the depth of drama, they also value the lighter, more entertaining aspects of comedy.

"I've done some really good films, and I've been in some stinkers too."

This quote reflects a sense of self-awareness and humility, suggesting that even a talented individual like Dennis Farina, who has participated in notable film projects, also acknowledges his involvement in less successful ones. It signifies the reality of the entertainment industry where success is not always guaranteed, despite talent or effort invested.

My parents, I don't know about 'strict,' but I would say they were fair and judicious, you know?

- Dennis Farina

Fair, Say, About, Judicious

I don't need to see the old school to remember it and the teachers there. They changed the way that I've always looked at life and learning.

- Dennis Farina

Need, Always, Looked, Old School

This face is nothing to brag about. I don't know what it is that these people see in my face.

- Dennis Farina

Face, Nothing, See, Brag

Usually you're in movies with a lot of dissolves and things, but this was kind of quick, more jarring than usual. I thought it would be fun to be in a movie that's unconventional. Then I met Guy and I liked him. I think he's a good man.

- Dennis Farina

Thought, Quick, I Think, A Good Man

I realize that no one is going to come to me and ask me to be Julius Caesar or a romantic lead, but I think I'm a certain type of guy who looks a certain way, and that's just the reality of things.

- Dennis Farina

Guy, Certain Way, I Think, Caesar

My best year was probably 1948, and after that, it's been downhill for me.

- Dennis Farina

Me, Year, Been, Downhill

What you do as a policeman might be the right thing to do, but it's not entertaining. I left that behind me.

- Dennis Farina

Behind, Might, Entertaining, Policeman

The most credible police shows I've ever seen were 'Barney Miller' on TV and 'The French Connection' movie. They showed the tedious side of police work.

- Dennis Farina

Movie, Side, TV, Barney

This is my first experience working in a foreign movie, but the mechanics, I think, are pretty much the same all over; you still have to wait in the trailer.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Pretty, Over, Trailer

I wanted to do Buddy Faro as a small budget movie. They said no. So I wanted to do it as a series of recurring TV movies, and they said no. So I agreed to do it as a series.

- Dennis Farina

Small, Movie, TV, Recurring

I have - and you gotta believe this - hardly ever met anybody in Hollywood who's not nice. There are some people I don't like, but everybody has been very nice.

- Dennis Farina

Some, Everybody, Very, Hardly

When I first got into acting, I never had any long-term goals, never had any plan. I just thought it would be a good way to make some extra money.

- Dennis Farina

Thought, Some, Good Way, Goals

When they released Sidewalks of New York, there were some shots with the towers they were going to take out, and Ed told them no. I don't think they can deny the towers were a part of New York.

- Dennis Farina

Think, New, Some, Towers

Rooting for the Cubs is not easy, but the best things in life never are.

- Dennis Farina

Never, Things, Rooting, Cubs

I had seen 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and I thought that was a different kind of film than I'd seen before, with that kind of editing and slick camera movements.

- Dennis Farina

Thought, Kind, Before, Barrels

I know people who go back and check themselves, but it drives me crazy. Everybody wants to look in the mirror and see Cary Grant looking back at them, but that's just not the case.

- Dennis Farina

Looking Back, Everybody, None

Everybody wants to look in the mirror and see Cary Grant looking back at them, but that's just not the case.

- Dennis Farina

Looking Back, Everybody, None

There's a whole catalogue of actors that never went to acting school.

- Dennis Farina

School, Never, Whole, Acting School

Car chases usually don't involve major criminals - they're usually guys afraid of getting another traffic ticket.

- Dennis Farina

Another, Ticket, Involve, Traffic

I was a policeman for 18 years.

- Dennis Farina

Years, Policeman

I think my high-school acting career lasted a day.

- Dennis Farina

Career, Think, I Think, Acting Career

We know television should educate and inform, and I believe it should entertain.

- Dennis Farina

Should, Entertain, Inform, Educate

I've worked on what I think are good things.

- Dennis Farina

Think, I Think, Worked, Good Things

I've tried writing. Two days later I'd go visit it and say, Jesus Christ, who wrote this crap?

- Dennis Farina

Jesus Christ, Christ, Wrote, Visit

For some reason or another, 'Richard Diamond, Private Eye,' still sticks out in my mind. I don't think I particularly liked that show, but for some reason, he sticks in my mind.

- Dennis Farina

Reason, Some, Richard, Sticks

As far as carrying the American banner, you just do what's right for the kids.

- Dennis Farina

Banner, Far, As Far As, Carrying

I really don't think there's such a thing as an ex-policeman.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Thing, Really, Such A Thing

I wasn't so sure about signing up for 'Law & Order.' I liked the show, but another TV series? I'll tell you, though, it's been great, and I had no idea how popular the show was.

- Dennis Farina

Idea, Been, TV, Popular

I have a home in Arizona. I go a couple months a year, but basically Chicago is my home.

- Dennis Farina

Arizona, Couple, Months, Chicago

Chicago's always a friendly place to me.

- Dennis Farina

Me, Always, Friendly, Chicago

I live my life. And the best place to do that is Chicago.

- Dennis Farina

Best, My Life, Place, Chicago

People are always telling me to shut up about Chicago.

- Dennis Farina

Always, Shut, Telling, Chicago

Maybe it's because I was too much reality, but I'm not interested in seeing too much reality anymore. I'd rather watch a Dean Martin concert and let the world go by.

- Dennis Farina

Maybe, Rather, Dean, Not Interested

When I was younger, I watched all the detective shows.

- Dennis Farina

Younger, Shows, Watched, Detective

Sometimes you can take those dramatic roles and maybe interject a little humor into them, and I think the reverse also works.

- Dennis Farina

Think, I Think, Works, Reverse

When I was a kid going to the movies, we'd go because Bogart was in the movie, or Cagney, or John Wayne. We didn't know what the story was about or anything.

- Dennis Farina

Movie, Going, John Wayne, Wayne

This isn't the most handsome face in the world, and there are a lot of younger guys out there, but I keep hanging in there.

- Dennis Farina

Handsome, Out, Younger, Hanging

You really have to act on the force, too. You're involved in a hundred things a day, and you have to react in a hundred different ways, depending on what's going on. And you learn that as you go through your career, how you handle certain situations, interrogations, how you carry yourself. There's a kind of acting to it.

- Dennis Farina

Career, Through, Hundred, Situations

My mother and sisters cooked Italian food, and I never heard of half of the dishes you see in these Italian restaurants. I just go in and order spaghetti.

- Dennis Farina

Spaghetti, Half, Cooked, Restaurants

I didn't fall for a lot of that stardom stuff.

- Dennis Farina

Fall, Stuff, Lot, Stardom

This generation of filmmakers is very good. They're seasoned, for some reason.

- Dennis Farina

Generation, Some, Very, Filmmakers

When I first started out acting, I didn't have anything to lose. I had another career. If I fell on my face, I could say, 'I'll see ya,' and go back to working.

- Dennis Farina

Career, Lose, Could, Ya

I'd love to do a Western. A real Western like John Ford used to do. There's not too many of them made, so I don't know if I'll ever get to do that. They're awfully hard movies to make.

- Dennis Farina

Love, Used, Ford, Western

I would love, one day before this is all over, to do a Western. That, and to play a priest.

- Dennis Farina

Love, Play, Over, Western

I learned a long time ago: You're in the entertainment business. You're not in the reality business. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

- Dennis Farina

Business, Other, Learned, Absolutely Nothing

My friends are still the guys I met 40 or 50 years ago.

- Dennis Farina

Guys, Still, Met, Years Ago

Most cop movies and TV shows are fantasies.

- Dennis Farina

Movies, Most, TV, TV Shows

I think first impressions are important when you pick up a script.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Impressions, I Think, Script

I read the script and try not to bring anything personal into it. I make notes, talk to the director and we decide what kinds of shades should be in the character.

- Dennis Farina

Shades, Notes, Read, Script

I'm very lucky. I'm the most fortunate guy that I know.

- Dennis Farina

Lucky, Most, Very, Fortunate

I'm a bit of a clotheshorse, and having a tailor-made suit is a big deal.

- Dennis Farina

Big, Deal, Having, Big Deal

I've been involved in some movies that I really thought were going to take off that didn't. And then I've thought, 'This movie's not going anywhere,' and it worked. The same thing with television shows.

- Dennis Farina

Thought, Some, Been, Television Shows

You can change a person's life in an instant; put him in a movie, and you start thinking differently, you want to be in another movie. It's like an addiction almost.

- Dennis Farina

Movie, Like, Almost, Instant

I even played a part in 'Miami Vice.'

- Dennis Farina

Part, Vice, Even, Miami

One of the funny things in life to me is a guy who takes himself very seriously.

- Dennis Farina

Himself, Funny Things, Very, Seriously

It was a great time, and I liked the guys. I liked getting up every morning and being a cop.

- Dennis Farina

Great Time, Guys, Getting, Cop

If you did something, and it wasn't right, you definitely found out about it. And they were pretty smart people, both my parents, so you didn't get too much by them.

- Dennis Farina

Out, About, Both My Parents, Smart

Vince or Brad or Benicio would say, Maybe we should try this, and Guy was open to changes.

- Dennis Farina

Maybe, Should, Would, Brad

Acting is a work in progress for me. I just try to keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open, especially with the people I've worked with.

- Dennis Farina

Work, Eyes, Shut, Ears

I have no message or answers to social questions.

- Dennis Farina

Questions, Answers, Social, Message

I love England and the historical aspect of it.

- Dennis Farina

Love, England, I Love, Aspect

I like working. I like getting up every morning and going somewhere. Where I do it or what form doesn't matter.

- Dennis Farina

Matter, Like, Going, Somewhere

You can't act for the editing. You just go in and do the scene the way you think is right.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Go, Act, Editing

You can't act for the editing. You have to leave that to him. So you just go in and do the scene the way you think is right or whatever you're directed to do, and leave the rest of that technical stuff up to the director.

- Dennis Farina

Rest, Think, Directed, Editing

If I'm characterized as a character actor, that's fine with me. Whatever they want to call me is fine.

- Dennis Farina

Character, Actor, Call, Characterized

Sometimes I do pinch myself about the life I've had.

- Dennis Farina

Myself, Sometimes, About, Pinch

I don't like to be talked into anything. I don't want to be cajoled.

- Dennis Farina

Want, Anything, Like, Talked

I've taken up golf... or golf has taken me up.

- Dennis Farina

Me, Taken, Up, Golf

The cast was huge, but I never saw anybody.

- Dennis Farina

Never, Anybody, Saw, Cast

There's not too many offers that come my way about being in a musical.

- Dennis Farina

About, Offers, Too, Musical

In the kind of roles I do, you can do them and walk away from it and have a really nice time.

- Dennis Farina

Kind, Away, Them, Roles

I've probably played more non-police roles than people realize.

- Dennis Farina

More, Than, Played, Roles

Do whatever you're directed to do, and leave the rest of that technical stuff up to the director.

- Dennis Farina

Rest, Technical, Directed, Director

The British have slang words, as we do, but it was fun.

- Dennis Farina

Fun, Words, British, Slang

Change never bothers me, not really.

- Dennis Farina

Change, Me, Never, Bothers

I don't know if I have a technique. I'm just trying to remember the words.

- Dennis Farina

Remember, Words, Trying, Technique

I just think 'Law & Order' is the gold standard. History is going to show that it's probably one of the best series of shows that has been on television.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Been, Standard, Series

I loved 'Buddy Faro.' I loved the whole idea.

- Dennis Farina

Loved, Idea, Whole, Buddy

Am I a good actor? I don't think about it. But I'm working on it.

- Dennis Farina

Think, Actor, About, Good Actor

I'm just a character actor.

- Dennis Farina

Character, Actor, Just, Character Actor

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