Quotes from Denis Leary

I remember 9/11; we had 'Comics Come Home' about a month after those events. That night, even the comedians were concerned. Would the audience be ready to laugh? It was a release for everyone.

Hockey's my favorite sport.

I write what I think is funny and I write from a sense of popping a balloon or a sense of injustice, whether it's about yourself, or whether it's about something else. It's my worldview; it doesn't mean that everybody has to agree with it.

I don't really have a lot of fun playing just straight good guys. It's not my thing. It's like Tom Hanks territory.

My brother and I tortured my mother growing up.

I love Santa Monica and Venice because I like the beach. I have a lot of friends in that area.

I love French stuff. Mmmm, french fries.

I obviously identify with the anti-authority figure. I've pretty much always had problems with authority, ever since I was a kid.

I don't watch 'American Idol.' I don't watch any of that stuff.

The best comedy audiences in the country and this is tried and true, I'm not just saying it, in my opinion are Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago.

I went to school with Steven Wright, who was the shyest guy I knew, and one day someone suddenly told me that he was in a club doing standup comedy. I went down to his club and he was great. Another friend of mine, who was pretty much a thief by trade, was hosting the show. So I thought, 'If these guys can do it, then so can I.'

Let me tell you something: I love the Yankees. And let me tell you why: because without the Yankees, there is nobody to hate.

Vacuuming is great. I do the laundry. I love washing machines. I'm the maid in my house.

I love to smoke. I love to eat red meat. I'll only eat red meat that comes from cows who smoke, ok!? Special cows they grow in Virginia with voice boxes in their necks. "Moo"

I'd love to do another television series. I really love the writing process, and as an actor I really like how much you get to examine in television.

There's not going to be a 'Rescue Me' movie. Not a chance.

You try to - you want to fly on both sides of the political fence because that's where the - where the comedy is.

Not eating meat is a decision, eating meat is an instinct.

I obviously identify with the anti-authority figure. I've pretty much always had problems with authority, ever since I was a kid. But, yeah, it's not identifying, I think it's more a part of my natural DNA that I question anybody who has a plan. Everybody's got to have an angle; that's the way I grew up.

The biggest battle for a lot of people who come out of the theater, which is where I was trained, is that they can never forget that a camera is pointed at them.

If you want a long-term relationship that doesn't require a lot of work, I say, get a dog. They love you no matter what. But when it comes to humans, there's no secret; you really have to appreciate the person every single day.

I'm born and raised in the Northeast. My parents are Irish immigrants. So our tendency is to shy away from the big yellow ball that comes up in the sky every once in a while.

Most of the women placed in the fire department here in New York never passed the physical test. And a fat guy or a short guy, or anybody not passing the test in a life-or-death job, leads to friction.

I think it's a shame when you come across young actors and musicians who haven't had the time to learn their craft. It doesn't matter if it's acting or music; you really have to learn how to do it from the bottom up because unless you have a great work ethic... fame is a terrible thing to have.