Ryan Murphy Quotes

Powerful Ryan Murphy for Daily Growth

About Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy, a prolific and acclaimed American screenwriter, producer, and director, was born on November 30, 1965, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Raised by his mother, a secretary, and grandmother, Murphy's interest in storytelling blossomed early. He found solace in films and television, with the works of Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, and Barbra Streisand influencing him significantly. Murphy attended Indiana University but dropped out to pursue his dream in Hollywood. His big break came when he wrote the screenplay for the 1997 horror-comedy film "I Know What You Did Last Summer." This success led to creating and producing the hit series "Popular" for The WB network, which showcased his knack for exploring complex teenage dynamics. In 2004, Murphy co-created "Nip/Tuck," a drama series about plastic surgeons that ran for six seasons. His collaboration with Fox continued with the creation of "Glee" in 2009, a musical comedy-drama series that tackled societal issues while celebrating music and self-expression. Murphy made a significant impact on television with his groundbreaking work on FX's anthology series "American Horror Story" (2011–present) and "American Crime Story" (2016–present). His projects often push boundaries, exploring taboo topics such as mental health, sexuality, and crime. In 2018, Murphy signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix, further expanding his influence in the entertainment industry. Despite his numerous accolades, including multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, and GLAAD Media Awards, Murphy continues to challenge audiences with compelling narratives that resonate deeply.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm attracted to projects where I can learn something new."

This quote by Ryan Murphy suggests that he is drawn towards projects which offer opportunities for personal growth and development. He values experiences that challenge him, expand his knowledge, and ultimately help him to grow as a creator. This approach likely contributes to the diversity and innovative nature of his work.


"I feel like my job is to make people feel better about themselves and see the beauty in the world."

Ryan Murphy's quote suggests that he views his work as a means of boosting self-esteem and fostering an appreciation for the aesthetic qualities of life. He aims to create content that not only entertains but also empowers individuals, helping them see their own beauty and find joy in the world around them.


"The most important thing I've learned this year is to trust my instincts."

Ryan Murphy's quote underscores the importance of relying on one's intuition, or "instinct," as a valuable decision-making tool. This means that in unfamiliar situations, it's essential to trust the gut feelings and inner wisdom we possess rather than being overly reliant on external factors or the opinions of others. This approach can lead to a more confident and decisive decision-making process, ultimately empowering individuals to navigate their personal and professional lives effectively.


"I think a lot of television, especially network television, is scared of the word 'gay.' It's still a touchy subject for them."

This quote by Ryan Murphy highlights that there remains an underlying apprehension or fear associated with portraying homosexuality in mainstream television, particularly on network channels. The phrase "scared of the word 'gay'" suggests a reluctance to address or acknowledge LGBTQ+ themes due to social norms, prejudices, or conservative sensibilities. This quote implies that such avoidance is detrimental to authentic representation and can hinder progress in promoting inclusivity and understanding within society at large.


"My goal is always to make the audience cry at least three times in an episode."

Ryan Murphy's quote signifies his intention as a storyteller to evoke strong emotional responses from his audience, with a particular focus on eliciting tears at least three times within a single episode of his work. This suggests that he values creating narratives that are deeply moving and powerful enough to resonate emotionally with viewers on multiple occasions throughout the episode.


I love Larry Kramer's advocacy, and I love him as a person, and I think young people need to see that story.

- Ryan Murphy

Love, Think, I Think, Advocacy

For me, growing up in Indiana with cornfields and churches, I was always very intrigued by the Academy Awards - they were a big event. That was the one night of the year when all of the glittering movie stars got together, and I used to love that night because, as a child, it was a way to dream for me.

- Ryan Murphy

Love, Big, Very, Churches

At the end of the day, a divorce is a divorce, and a break-up is a break-up. They are essentially small matters of the heart. They are human stories.

- Ryan Murphy

Small, Matters, Stories, Break-Up

I formed this thing called the Half Foundation, and what I tried to do is quantify hiring practices in Hollywood. Half the population is women, so half of the storytellers should be women. Fifty percent of all the directors in my company are women, and it will forever be that way.

- Ryan Murphy

Hollywood, Hiring, Half, Practices

I would much rather have watched Jill Clayburgh in 'An Unmarried Woman' than 'Star Wars.' Even though I saw that movie when I was 11, I related emotionally to being left and thrown in a trash can on the side of the road. Her damage - I got it. I didn't understand Han Solo at all.

- Ryan Murphy

Woman, Movie, Damage, Trash

Even though 'Glee' is sometimes a hard road, I am very excited about writing a multi-year arc.

- Ryan Murphy

Excited, Very, Though, Arc

You know, I'm very particular about my sheets. They have to be one hundred percent cotton, with a high thread count. Only cotton. No flannel.

- Ryan Murphy

Very, About, Hundred, Flannel

I love Sarah Jessica Parker; I've worked with her. I think she's amazing... She's a great producer and has a great business acumen.

- Ryan Murphy

Love, Think, I Think, Acumen

I love crispy, cool sheets.

- Ryan Murphy

Love, Cool, I Love, Sheets

Here's the thing: When you tell somebody, 'I love you. I have always loved your work, and I want to show people a different side of you,' it's sort of an interesting thing that in my case, I've been very lucky, where they're like, 'OK.'

- Ryan Murphy

Love, Lucky, Here, OK

Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that we are all the same - that we all have normal hearts - that's the first step. I'm both amazed at the progress and amazed at how far we have to go.

- Ryan Murphy

How, How Far, Kramer, Wisely

When I got my overall deal at Fox, I got amazing bosses in John Landgraf and Dana Walden and Peter Rice. For the first time ever, they said, 'Don't change who you are; be who you are. And write something you want to watch.' That thing was 'Glee,' and it took off from there.

- Ryan Murphy

Fox, Deal, Got, Glee

If you look at 'American Horror Story' or 'Crime Story,' these are visceral, action-packed, sometimes bloody episodes of television. They're not 'feminine.' They're not about sexy women sitting around looking beautiful, drinking lattes. These episodes are calling cards to show companies like Marvel, 'Look, women can do these kind of movies.'

- Ryan Murphy

Cards, Feminine, Visceral, Episodes

I only wrote two fan letters in my life. One was to Bette Davis. And one was to Ron Palillo, who played Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter.' And Ron did not write me back, but Bette Davis did.

- Ryan Murphy

My Life, Back, Wrote, Letters

I was an altar boy, with a very strict father. And movies were always my escape.

- Ryan Murphy

Movies, Always, Very, Strict

Well, I'm from Indiana. So to me when I was a little kid growing up, Cincinnati was the glamorous New York of it all.

- Ryan Murphy

New, Kid, Glamorous, Cincinnati

People think I'm just sort of this P. T. Barnum, razzle-dazzle guy. They think I go out of my way to be outlandish and theatrical at the expense of having emotions. They don't get that there's another side to me, and I keep trying to show that other side.

- Ryan Murphy

Other, Another, Theatrical, Outlandish

One of the unique things about 'American Horror Story' is, it's very respectful to actors. Actors in many cases don't want to be tied down to a seven-year contract. So my deal with the cast is: you're free after every year: you can come back, or you cannot come back.

- Ryan Murphy

Year, Deal, Very, Respectful

When I was growing up my favorite show was 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and I loved all the stuff that Norman Lear did.

- Ryan Murphy

Show, Mary, Tyler, None

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis are larger than life. They just are. They sucked all the oxygen out of a room: they're icons; they loom large in our imaginations. But the truth of the matter is both women were diminutive.

- Ryan Murphy

Matter, Larger, Joan, Oxygen

The only way to get through the life I had was just to have a big head of steam and determination.

- Ryan Murphy

Big, Through, Had, Steam

I loved musicals, and I loved Barbra Streisand, and I loved Louis Malle. My tastes were very bizarre, but the thing they all had in common is that they took me out of my life and made me feel something.

- Ryan Murphy

My Life, Very, Tastes, Louis

I'll ask the writers' room who they voted for Emmy awards, but I'll never ask who they voted for president.

- Ryan Murphy

Never, Awards, Ask, Emmy

I think that the work that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford did was truly extraordinary, and that's their legacy. Not the other petty stuff.

- Ryan Murphy

Think, Other, I Think, Petty

I started off in this business in 1998, and I didn't fit in. There was no place for me, and I always felt like an oddball. Nobody really understood my work or what I wanted to do in my references.

- Ryan Murphy

Business, Always, References, Understood

I came of age during AIDS and the terror of that and the sadness and the death and the overwhelming despair.

- Ryan Murphy

Death, Overwhelming, Terror, Despair

I had been accepted to film school, but my parents couldn't afford it, and yet they made too much money for me to get a scholarship.

- Ryan Murphy

Been, Made, Film School, Scholarship

The greatest thing that you have when you're a showrunner is this opportunity to create worlds.

- Ryan Murphy

Opportunity, Create, Worlds, Greatest Thing

It's a weird thing, my shows. I don't know how to describe it, but I feel because I go about the casting process so slowly that it does feel like an instant family.

- Ryan Murphy

Process, Like, Weird Thing, Casting

I'm passionate about actors, and I'm passionate about showing actors in different lights.

- Ryan Murphy

Passionate, Different, About, Lights

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