Dylan Mcdermott Quotes

Powerful Dylan Mcdermott for Daily Growth

About Dylan Mcdermott

Dylan McDermott, born on October 26, 1959, in Waterbury, Connecticut, is an accomplished American actor, director, and producer. Known for his striking good looks and versatile acting skills, he has established a significant career spanning over four decades. Raised in New Jersey, McDermott's interest in acting was sparked during high school when he landed the lead role in a school production of "West Side Story." After graduating, he moved to New York City and later to Los Angeles to pursue his acting dreams. McDermott gained widespread recognition for his role as Bobby Donnell on the legal drama series, "The Practice" (1997-2004), for which he was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards. His notable film roles include David Mills in the "Scream" trilogy (1996-2011) and Tom Markham in "Stepmom" (1998). In addition to acting, McDermott has directed episodes for several television shows, including "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Grimm," and "Stalker." He also co-created, produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed series, "Stalker" (2014-2015). Throughout his career, McDermott has been influenced by actors such as Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and Dustin Hoffman. His work often revolves around complex characters dealing with moral dilemmas and personal conflicts. Outside of acting, McDermott is passionate about painting and has even showcased his artwork in galleries. Currently, McDermott stars as Richard 'Dick' Wolf in the Netflix series "Hollywood" (2020) and can be seen in various films and television productions. His impressive body of work continues to grow, solidifying his status as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I always say if you can act, you can act anywhere."

Dylan McDermott's quote implies that acting skill is universal, suggesting that an actor with talent can effectively perform in any location or setting. It emphasizes the importance of one's abilities over external factors when it comes to acting, as long as one possesses the necessary skills, they can deliver a convincing and impactful performance regardless of the context.


"The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more."

Dylan McDermott's quote suggests that the most significant advantage of taking action (doing) is the ability to take on more opportunities in the future. This implies a cycle where action leads to growth, which then provides new chances for further actions, fostering continuous personal development and fulfillment. It emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities and persevering, as each effort increases one's capacity and potential for greater accomplishments.


"I've always felt that the most powerful and interesting people are those who have a clear sense of what they want."

Dylan McDermott's quote emphasizes the significance of having a defined purpose or goal in life, as such individuals are often considered powerful and intriguing. Having a clear objective allows one to focus their efforts, make decisions, and prioritize tasks effectively, leading to personal growth and achievements. It also suggests that those with a strong sense of direction tend to be more captivating, as their determination and ambition inspire others. In essence, the quote underscores the importance of self-awareness and goal-setting in shaping one's personality and impacting the world around them.


"I like playing characters that have a certain amount of mystery or darkness about them."

Dylan McDermott appreciates portraying characters with a mix of intrigue and shadowy qualities, as these complex personalities often offer richer depth for an actor to explore, providing a more engaging experience for audiences who enjoy the subtle nuances of human behavior that can be found in individuals with hidden or enigmatic aspects.


"I think life is about getting knocked down and getting back up again, and the more times you do it, the stronger you become."

This quote emphasizes resilience as a crucial aspect of personal growth. Life is often characterized by hardships and setbacks, symbolized by being "knocked down." However, it's not the knocks that define us but our response to them - getting back up again. Each time we rise, we become stronger, demonstrating adaptability, perseverance, and fortitude in the face of adversity. Overcoming challenges helps shape our character and equips us with the strength to tackle future obstacles more effectively.


I was terrified of the Vietnam War when I was 13. I thought I was going. The draft was such an ominous thing, I felt as if it was going to trickle down to me.

- Dylan McDermott

Thought, Going, Terrified, Ominous

It's the cable shows that are really the most interesting - 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad,' those shows are really the premiere shows on television right now.

- Dylan McDermott

Interesting, Television, Bad, Breaking Bad

I believe that Ryan Murphy is a genius. His instincts remind me of Andy Warhol. I recently went to the Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, and you can see a lot of echoes of Andy in Ryan's work. Like Andy, Ryan's finger is so on the pulse of culture that he's ahead of culture. Their aesthetic and their vision of the world are very similar.

- Dylan McDermott

Aesthetic, Warhol, Ryan, Pulse

My dad was kind of a pool shark and had a Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin thing going on. I've always been fascinated by the fifties because of him. There was a hip, cool, anything-goes atmosphere back then, but looking good was still a priority.

- Dylan McDermott

Frank, Atmosphere, Dean, None

I've tried like hell to make bad movies good, and I can't. Maybe Marlon Brando has been able to do that at times. But even he has a hard time making 'The Appaloosa' a good movie.

- Dylan McDermott

Bad, Movie, Been, Brando

Most actors are starving. Most of us are walking around with a flashlight and tweezers looking for evidence. When you have someone that actually writes an acting role, it's rare.

- Dylan McDermott

Role, Evidence, Starving, Writes

The Victorian era is the sexiest age for me, but I also like a woman in a pair of jeans.

- Dylan McDermott

Woman, Like, Era, Sexiest

Media runs the world, and it all changed, I think, when the debate between Kennedy and Nixon happened, and first of all we saw them on television, and that changed everything.

- Dylan McDermott

Think, I Think, Nixon, Runs

My past is not pleasant; I grew up in a very tough town, Waterbury, Connecticut. I grew up in New York, too, but Waterbury was tougher.

- Dylan McDermott

New, Town, Very, Connecticut

Most of the time people are aiming so low on television. They're trying to reach that common denominator, especially on network television.

- Dylan McDermott

Reach, Network Television, Common Denominator

New York had a big influence on me growing up, and I was really part of the club scene - the Mudd Club and Studio 54. When you're living in New York, you are just bombarded with style, trying to figure out how to be cool and how to feel relaxed at the same time.

- Dylan McDermott

Big, Studio, Part, Big Influence

Nowadays you really have to pump out that blockbuster in order to have the luxury of getting a body of work, and that's sad because the work suffers. Today everything is based on money. The older actors, they inspire me.

- Dylan McDermott

Work, Based, Suffers, Pump

I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to act, but I needed to. And I still feel that same way. There's an expression that I get to have in acting that I can't consciously express in my life. It has always defined me and it always will.

- Dylan McDermott

My Life, Always, Still, Defined

'Rosemary's Baby' is still one of my favorite movies of all time. The idea of her being impregnated with the devil is just so frightening. I'm actually going to work on a movie in February, called 'Mercy,' from Jason Blum, who produced the 'Paranormal Activity' movies, and there is a similar theme to 'Rosemary's Baby' in the movie.

- Dylan McDermott

Activity, Movie, Idea, Favorite Movies

I've always been fascinated by Baretta and Donny Brasco, and other undercover cops in movies.

- Dylan McDermott

Movies, Always, Cops, Undercover

Style is innate to who I am. My father gave me a picture the other day. I must have been about seven, and I had on wing-tip shoes and some cool pants. I thought, 'Wow!'

- Dylan McDermott

Some, Other, Been, Wow

As much as they deny it, I think people want to be scared. It's a phenomenon, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence and craziness in the world. People still really enjoy being scared. It's a conundrum to me. It's hard to explain. It's an unconscious thing, really, why people like that so much.

- Dylan McDermott

Why, Explain, I Think, Scared

L.A. is still such a fascinating place to me, so big and diverse. It's so spread out that you can go from Zuma to downtown and there's really like 10 different towns in between.

- Dylan McDermott

Big, Like, Still, Diverse

Honestly, I'm cool with everyone, and people pick up on that. I'd say, 'I'm not gay, but it's all good.' It's kind of like going to Paris when you don't know the language; some Americans get into trouble over there, but I'm just like, 'Sorry, I don't speak French.'

- Dylan McDermott

Good, Language, Some, French

I guess my style is a cross between David Bowie and Clint Eastwood.

- Dylan McDermott

Eastwood, Clint, Guess, Bowie

Jerry Bruckheimer really is an executive producer, who obviously is the most successful producer in the history of film and television.

- Dylan McDermott

Television, The History Of, Jerry

Yeah, romantic comedies are the hardest movies to make. Maybe one works a year.

- Dylan McDermott

Movies, Romantic Comedies, Comedies

Once you understand that someone has Tourette and that they can't help their tics, it takes away the distraction. And you can engage your compassion. You feel for them. You embrace them.

- Dylan McDermott

Embrace, Understand, Away, Engage

My theory about actors is we're all walking milk cartons. Expirations dates everywhere.

- Dylan McDermott

Walking, Everywhere, About, Dates

With the rise of cable, network is clearly floundering because the characters on cable are far more fascinating than they are on network. Network television is trying to figure it out. Network television really relies on story rather than character, and cable relies on character.

- Dylan McDermott

Figure, Network Television, Rise

I mean, I always think when you're an actor you have to be the guy running into the burning building rather than running out of it, if you want to make some noise as an actor.

- Dylan McDermott

Think, Some, Always, Noise

I did a movie with Clint Eastwood and I knew I wasn't going to be able to 'out-man' him.

- Dylan McDermott

Movie, Going, Eastwood, Clint

As an actor, you always have to reinvent yourself or you end up in the gutter somewhere. It's my job to always change people's minds. I've known that for a long time and I've had to do it.

- Dylan McDermott

Change, Reinvent, Always, Gutter

'Dark Blue' is ultimately a gritty crime drama, at its core. I don't think that is ever going to change.

- Dylan McDermott

Think, Going, Gritty, Core

It's like, no matter what I do, I always feel like I'm five years old, and I end up in the back of my father's car looking out the window, and nothing has changed in 25 years.

- Dylan McDermott

Old, Always, Like, Window

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