Tom Berenger Quotes

Powerful Tom Berenger for Daily Growth

About Tom Berenger

Thomas Richard Berenger, popularly known as Tom Berenger, was born on May 5, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in the suburban town of Lakewood, Ohio, Berenger's passion for acting was sparked during his teenage years when he performed in school plays. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College, where he honed his acting skills before moving to New York City to pursue a professional career. Berenger made his film debut in the 1980 comedy 'Starting Over,' but it was his role as Sergeant Richard Masland in the Academy Award-winning film 'Platoon' (1986) that catapulted him to stardom, earning him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This role marked the beginning of Berenger's successful collaboration with director Oliver Stone, as he also starred in 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989) and 'JFK' (1991). Berenger's acting range is evident in his diverse roles, from the fearless Vietnam War hero to the ruthless Colonel William T. Savage in the miniseries 'The Pacific' (2010), a portrayal that earned him another Emmy nomination. His other notable works include 'Inception' (2010) and 'Training Day' (2001). Off-screen, Berenger is known for his advocacy work, particularly with the Disabled American Veterans organization. His life experiences and dedication to storytelling have made him one of Hollywood's most respected actors. Today, he continues to captivate audiences with his powerful performances in both film and television.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."

This quote by Tom Berenger suggests that courage isn't about being fearless, but choosing to act despite fear for a higher purpose or value. It underscores the idea that overcoming fear is essential in facing challenges and pursuing meaningful endeavors, as fear should not be a barrier to progress or personal growth.


"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares more about than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

This quote highlights Tom Berenger's perspective on war, emphasizing that while it is an ugly aspect of human existence, it may not be the worst scenario. He implies that a state where people lack moral and patriotic values to the extent they perceive nothing as worth fighting for, leading to prioritizing personal safety over all else, is more deplorable. In essence, Berenger suggests that true freedom, the kind worthy of being called freedom, comes from those who courageously stand up for their principles and values, even when it means risking their own safety.


"The good die young, but in a war, they stay dead."

This quote by Tom Berenger signifies the tragic irony that often occurs during wartime. It suggests that innocent, virtuous individuals - those who embody goodness - are taken from the world prematurely due to war. However, unlike in normal circumstances where the good live on through their actions and legacies, in a war, they do not have the opportunity to continue living or contributing positively to society. Instead, they remain forever dead. This poignant observation encapsulates the immense loss and sorrow that wars inflict, particularly on those who are left behind.


"In war there is no honor. In war, only violence, cruelty, and death. The real heroes are trying to prevent it from happening all together."

This quote emphasizes that war, inherently, is devoid of honor due to its inherent nature of violence, cruelty, and death. It positions peace and the prevention of war as the true embodiment of heroism, suggesting that those who work towards disarmament, diplomacy, and conflict resolution are the real heroes, as they seek to prevent the atrocities and suffering that war inflicts.


"It's funny how you can't remember being born, but we remember everything about dying."

This quote by Tom Berenger highlights the paradoxical nature of human memory. We have no recollection of our birth, a significant event in our lives, yet we have vivid memories of more traumatic or intense experiences such as death or near-death situations. The quote suggests that perhaps our lack of remembrance of birth underscores the insignificance of the start of life compared to the impact of the end, when our existence is called into question. It serves as a reminder of the power and importance of memorable moments in our lives.


I came in on the tail end of the old school of Hollywood.

- Tom Berenger

School, Hollywood, Tail, Old School

I remember seeing Bill Hurt in New York once. I talked to him on the phone around 1988 and that's about it. I was shooting in New York and somebody said Glenn Close came by the set.

- Tom Berenger

Shooting, I Remember, About, Hurt

The Big Chill is one of those things that everybody can identify with. Between eight characters, they can pick somebody who's somewhat like them.

- Tom Berenger

Big, Everybody, Identify, Between

I've done about six comedies. Oddly enough, the script came to me from one of the guys in Platoon.

- Tom Berenger

Enough, Six, About, Oddly

These days, you can do a TV series for five years and all of a sudden be on top of the business. Features don't even run in theaters very long anymore before going right to television.

- Tom Berenger

Business, Very, TV, Theaters

We had training camp for a week, and we used the actual military drills of that period. We didn't have to work out much after hours, because going up and down hills all day was a good workout in itself.

- Tom Berenger

Training, Week, Had, Hills

Rough Riders took 13 weeks to shoot, plus a week of training. The same guy trained us trained the cast in Platoon. Except, instead of radios, we used bugles to signal.

- Tom Berenger

Rough, Took, Weeks, Signal

To people outside, they think, Gee, that's great. You get to go here and there. The other side of that is our expression, This is location, not vacation.

- Tom Berenger

Think, Here, Other, Vacation

I don't care about being a star. I can do a supporting role; I don't have to be a lead.

- Tom Berenger

Star, Role, Supporting Role, Supporting

Even my agents say, We don't know what this business is anymore.

- Tom Berenger

Business, Know, Even, Agents

I had already done a lot of research for Rough Riders, keeping notebooks and old photographs. Some of the books were antiques for that time period, with the covers falling off.

- Tom Berenger

Falling, Some, Period, Notebooks

Debra Winger doesn't let anything interfere with her performance, which is the way it should be.

- Tom Berenger

Performance, Her, Which, Interfere

Around mid-life everyone goes maniac a little bit.

- Tom Berenger

Goes, Everyone, Little Bit, Maniac

There's a hysterical, tired sense of humor that comes after working 14 hours a day, six days a week. I like those things because they take the pressure off the constant stress.

- Tom Berenger

Sense Of Humor, Week, Six Days

I don't think a director should have any kids. I don't even think it's good for your physical health. Even guys in their 30s look exhausted because directors never get enough sleep. What I do is stressful enough.

- Tom Berenger

Exhausted, Directors, Your, Stressful

I was kind of confused. I thought, Well, if I get drafted, I'll go. Everybody was very concerned with it. I had friends who went. Some that came back and some that didn't.

- Tom Berenger

Some, Everybody, Very, Drafted

I feel more comfortable doing films with groups of guys. It's a lot easier for me. There's a difference with women: you can't take them to dinner every night and go crazy.

- Tom Berenger

Doing, Feel, Lot, Every Night

I didn't know how to go about preparing for the part of someone who can't remember who he is. The frustration angle is written in, but there's also this incredible passive state.

- Tom Berenger

Frustration, Go, Part, Passive

While I was doing these plays in the beginning, I wasn't getting paid. I thought of it more as a hobby. Then I realized how seriously a lot of these people took what they were doing.

- Tom Berenger

Doing, Took, Plays, Hobby

I have family obligations and all that stuff. I get my kids six weeks in the summer, which is a real intense period of time. I'm with them every minute of the day.

- Tom Berenger

Six, Which, Period, Intense

My mother, sister and I watched through the windows as my father gambled.

- Tom Berenger

Mother, Through, Watched, Sister

I was so exhausted after fighting for the project for five years, shooting it was like the Bataan Death March.

- Tom Berenger

Death, Exhausted, Like, March

I got to talking to an old actor, and he had a bunch of stories about the Rough Riders.

- Tom Berenger

Actor, Stories, Rough, Riders

Take characters that Nicholson or De Niro play: they're not always tough.

- Tom Berenger

Play, Always, De Niro, Nicholson

I wrote a script. I actually enjoyed writing it more than acting. It's about the Irish rebellion of 1920, which is a fascinating period and place for me.

- Tom Berenger

Rebellion, Which, Period, Script

Every other movie is one of those action things. I mean, 'Lost in Space'? A bunch of good actors running around shooting at special effects on a soundstage? I took my kids to see that and felt like I was on an acid trip.

- Tom Berenger

Other, Special Effects, Trip

Sometimes I think I'm real predictable to myself and other times... you always wonder, Is this really what I wanted to do? Did I make a mistake? Should I be doing something else?

- Tom Berenger

Mistake, Think, Always, Predictable

This is all new to me, these re-releases. I don't know how these things do. I don't know if it will be people who saw it originally or young people.

- Tom Berenger

New, Young, Will, Originally

In this industry, the new owners prefer to kill anything they weren't responsible for.

- Tom Berenger

New, Prefer, Were, Responsible

You can't think that you're playing a villain, or you'll end up with a cartoon. You have to think about him as a person and a hero.

- Tom Berenger

Think, Villain, Person, Cartoon

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