Quotes from Van Heflin

Foreign films have helped me because I've become identified with international stars.

A lot of Europeans have done this, worked with American stars, and become identified over here.

When you give people something for nothing for awhile and then try to sell them some of that same thing, consciously or not, they resent it.

I think television will do the same thing to radio that talkies did to silent movies.

I can sit on a boat or a river bank and problems that seemed insurmountable just don't seem that important anymore.

Yellow fin or albacore are excellent tasting, or the dolphin fish but I don't mean the mammal variety. They call It mahimahi in Hawaii.

When a man has a wife and three youngsters he's not going to give up a well-paying job.

I'm a very practical actor, and having an artistic triumph that's a commercial flop doesn't do you any good, in any phase of show world.

Sure, I could retire anytime. I don't need to work for money. But retire to what? Sitting around the pool reading? Or even trout fishing. I love trout fishing, and I go every time I get a chance. But a man with pride in his profession need to work.

There are always fresh problems for an actor to solve.

A contract player has to do what he's told, and play the parts others pick out for him. As far as the studio is concerned he's just part of the stable.

The hard part of not working is occupying the mind. If an actor doesn't work, he grows stale.

When TV came along some years back I purposely stayed away from drama.

The stock company, as I knew it is dead. Road companies are few and far between. Still the theater must survive.

I'm from the old school of actors who are convinced too much exposure on TV isn't good for a long career.

You must remember that I won an Oscar for my role Johnny Eager. Then I went into the Army. But before I did, I was rushed into three other pictures to capitalize on the first.

I try to acquire some new approach with each role in order to build up a varied acting technique.

If you don't have that indefinable unique personality, you must learn as much as possible about acting in a variety of roles. That's why, at the outset of my career, I decided to learn every facet of my profession.

I've never been strong enough to stand out on my own. I've had to develop versatility to make up for my lack of an impressive stage and screen personality.

I was a 'name' in Europe because the type of picture I appeared in and the characters I played had a special appeal for them.

I certainly don't approve of American actors who go to Europe and run down Hollywood.

I have enough money for myself and my children.