Greg Kinnear Quotes

Powerful Greg Kinnear for Daily Growth

About Greg Kinnear

Greg Kinnear, born on February 17, 1963, in Logansport, Indiana, is an accomplished American actor known for his versatile performances across various genres. He grew up in a military family and moved frequently as a child, eventually settling in Florida where he developed a passion for acting during high school. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Kinnear decided to pursue acting instead. He moved to Los Angeles and started his career appearing in commercials and small television roles. His big break came in 1994 when he was cast as John F. Kennedy in the miniseries "Oliver North: American Hero." Kinnear's breakout role was in the 1996 film "As Good as It Gets," for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. This success led to more prominent roles in films such as "Mystic River" (2003), "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006), and "Heaven Is for Real" (2014). Throughout his career, Kinnear has demonstrated a knack for playing complex characters with nuanced performances. He has been recognized with multiple award nominations, including an Emmy for his work in the television series "Modern Family." Off-screen, Kinnear is known for his philanthropic efforts. He and his family founded the Kinnear Foundation, which supports various charities focused on education, health, and social services. Today, Greg Kinnear continues to act in films and television shows, showcasing his talent and versatility. His work serves as a testament to his commitment to storytelling and his ability to bring characters to life with authenticity and depth.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think there's a real power in being able to say, 'I'm sorry.' It's not a sign of weakness; it's actually a sign of strength."

This quote emphasizes the significance and courage associated with expressing sorrow or regret for wrongdoings or mistakes. The act of apologizing isn't indicative of weakness but instead symbolizes self-awareness, maturity, and personal growth. By acknowledging one's faults, individuals take responsibility for their actions and strive to improve themselves and foster healthier relationships with others.


"I think every actor wants to play someone who is as flawed and human as possible."

This quote emphasizes that actors are drawn to portraying characters with complexities, imperfections, and a sense of humanity. By playing flawed individuals, actors can create more authentic and relatable performances for audiences, fostering a stronger emotional connection between performer and viewer. The more realistic the character, the more we as an audience can empathize, understand, and learn from their experiences.


"My parents were the kindest people in the world, but they also had this very strict code: 'Don't make excuses; don't lie.' So I grew up with that sense of responsibility."

This quote by Greg Kinnear highlights the impact his parents had on shaping his character by instilling a strong sense of responsibility and accountability in him from an early age. Their values, which discouraged excuses and lying, have left a lasting impression, guiding Kinnear to be honest and take ownership of his actions throughout his life.


"When it comes to relationships, the best ones are the ones where you don't have to put on a performance to be who you really are."

This quote suggests that genuine, healthy relationships are those in which individuals can authentically express themselves without feeling the need to disguise or alter their true selves for approval or acceptance. In such relationships, both parties embrace each other's authenticity, fostering an environment of trust, understanding, and mutual growth. Essentially, it highlights the importance of genuine connections and self-expression in forming strong bonds between people.


"I think we all have our issues and our insecurities, but you just deal with them as they come up."

This quote by Greg Kinnear emphasizes the universality of personal struggles and insecurities, suggesting that everyone experiences them at some point in their lives. The quote encourages a proactive approach to managing these issues: when they arise, one should address them directly rather than avoid or suppress them. It underscores the importance of resilience, self-awareness, and a willingness to confront personal challenges head-on as a means of personal growth and emotional wellbeing.


The automotive corporations, including Ford, I think are in the business of trying to make cars that people will drive.

- Greg Kinnear

Think, I Think, Including, Ford

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this idea of opening a restaurant back in Indiana on a little pond. The guests would order their dinner and then take a little boat out with a colored flag on the front of it. When the matching color of the flag on their boat went up on a flag pole, their dinner was ready!

- Greg Kinnear

Color, Flag, Pond, Guests

I was a halfback on an American football team in Athens, Greece - the Kississia Colts - where I went to high school, and we took the Cup my senior year. The downside, and somewhat unfortunate piece of information I have to pass on, is there were only two teams in the league because of the limited amount of Americans.

- Greg Kinnear

American, Year, Two, Senior Year

I went door-to-door selling cable television subscriptions when I was in college. Not to date myself, but cable was just coming on. I had terrible territories, and they would give me $25, if I got somebody to let them come and just put the little cord in their house.

- Greg Kinnear

College, Date, Had, Territories

If you're working on a movie, you want it to be projected on the largest tapestry possible, and the sound to be perfect, and for that kind of communal experience of the movies to take place for it.

- Greg Kinnear

Movie, Tapestry, Largest, Communal

I was 12 when my parents told me we were moving to Lebanon. I remember thinking, 'Leba-who?' I had absolutely no concept of the place.

- Greg Kinnear

I Remember, Concept, Had, Lebanon

My family moved - first to Washington, D.C., and then, in the spring of 1975, to Lebanon, where my father worked as a diplomat at the American embassy. My parents were enthusiastic about the move, so my older brother and I felt like we were off to some place kind of cool.

- Greg Kinnear

Some, Older Brother, Moved, Lebanon

I've never had a clear road map. When things come along, I benefit.

- Greg Kinnear

Clear, Come, Had, Map

Good scripts and interesting stories are hard enough to find.

- Greg Kinnear

Interesting, Find, Stories, Interesting Stories

I really don't make a concerted effort to try to find a type of role. Maybe I've just done enough of them now where people are like, 'Oh, it's the guy that's in a swirling vortex of despair, send it to Kinnear!' I don't really know, but it does seem to be a recurring theme.

- Greg Kinnear

Role, Maybe, Vortex, Recurring

I'm happy to report that everybody whose face I've wanted to punch on Earth has already been punched.

- Greg Kinnear

Happy, Been, Everybody, Report

Setting goals can blind you to opportunities. You might be trying to get to point C. When opportunity B comes, you don't even look at it because you're going straight to C.

- Greg Kinnear

Blind, Going, Might, Goals

There's something in human nature, the trying-to-get-on-with-it quality of people, the struggle to maintain or keep the show going can be exhausting.

- Greg Kinnear

Nature, Going, Maintain, Struggle

When I look back on my childhood, I think of that short time in Beirut. I know that seeing the city collapse around me forced me to grasp something many people miss: the fragility of peace.

- Greg Kinnear

City, I Think, Forced, Beirut

Same job, whether it's comedy or drama. Regardless of the weight of the role, I feel like the job is always kind of the same. Who is this person? What's this guy here, and how is he playing with this thing, and what's he trying to say? And what's the volley with all these other people around him?

- Greg Kinnear

Here, Other, Role, Volley

I don't think there's any connection between my journalism career and my film career. They are two totally different mediums and very different skills.

- Greg Kinnear

Career, Think, Very, Journalism

Cat lovers turn into cat collectors.

- Greg Kinnear

Cat, Turn, Lovers, Collectors

I have always been interested in the concept of ruin.

- Greg Kinnear

Always, Been, Concept, Ruin

You don't get to pick your partners in families; you get assigned a seat at the table.

- Greg Kinnear

Seat, Pick, Partners, Table

I'm a terrible procrastinator. When we go to the airport, if they're not literally closing the door behind my sweaty, hyperventilating body, I feel I've been there too long.

- Greg Kinnear

Door, Behind, Been, Sweaty

I was always explaining why my term papers were never on time. I think that's where I got my acting training!

- Greg Kinnear

Think, Always, I Think, Explaining

I find fear is a great motivator to work hard.

- Greg Kinnear

Work, Work Hard, Find, Motivator

Talking about corporations - they're so big. There's not a person at a corporation.

- Greg Kinnear

Corporation, Big, Person, Corporations

Let's keep the chemists over here and the food over here, that's my feeling. What do I know? But that is a big aspect of fast food is their ability to artificially taint the colors and the smells and stuff to stimulate appetite.

- Greg Kinnear

Big, Here, Over, Artificially

Sometimes I look back and think, 'Good. I'd love to go in and bang out a good episode of 'Talk Soup' today.'

- Greg Kinnear

Love, Think, Soup, Bang

I do give a great deal of forethought and zone in on character and all sorts of things like that. Never before have I just stuffed something away in the back cupboard of my brain because it was just such a crazy concept.

- Greg Kinnear

Deal, Away, Before, Great Deal

The tragic element of a character is always intriguing I think.

- Greg Kinnear

Character, Think, Always, Intriguing

Of course, actors look forward to the day when they can do a big courtroom scene.

- Greg Kinnear

Forward, Big, Course, Courtroom

I really don't make a concerted effort to try to find a type of role.

- Greg Kinnear

Effort, Find, Role, Concerted Effort

I'm very leery of show business, having been in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. Buzz is a dangerous thing that I've heard applied to a lot of people that I've since not heard of again.

- Greg Kinnear

Been, Very, Applied, Los Angeles

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