Quotes from James Caan

I'm sort of a Walter Mitty. I got fewer brain cells than most people, so when I got friendly with cowboys, I started rodeoing. When I was calf-roping, there was something about the dirt that made me feel clean.

I am no longer willing to take parts in films and/or television shows which detract from the 50 years I have spent building my reputation.

I know what winning and losing is when you gamble.

I went to a shrink once, but I caught him going to a fortune-teller so I quit.

Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all.

People wonder why first-time directors can make a brilliant picture, then suck on the second one. It's because they're a little terrified the first time. So they listen to all the experts around them.

I remember at 16 years old, growing up in Queens, we were punks, but hey, when we went to the theater, we wore a shirt and tie! Similarly, I believe that to keep movie theaters in existence, they're gonna have to make 'em an event, have a couch, a table and drinks or something. Otherwise, there's no reason to get out of your bed!

Sure, I want to be the best actor in the world. But my life is my family, my son, my friends. I don't know how anyone can find fault with that.

People are always backing up when I'm just going to shake their hands.

There are a lot of guys in Hollywood who clap you on the back just a little too hard.

What I do quite honestly and seriously and not in any way being humble is not as important as what the garbage collector does. People make actors important.

I think we have to believe in things we don't see. That's really important for all of us, whether it's your religion or Santa Claus, or whatever. That's pretty much what it's about.

It's hard to tell writers, especially in movies, that words are secondary. Behavior is important.

I rodeo-ed for nine years. That's my other life.

I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's always, 'Punch this guy.'

I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.

It's always the guys who have absolutely nothing to give that start screaming and yelling about their makeup and trailers. It's a diversion so you don't pay attention to them, because they stink!

I really believe that you grow up a certain way in New York. There's a New York morality, a sense of loyalty. You know how to win and lose. There's a thousand kids outside, you know who to push and who not to push. There's a sixth sense you develop just because it's New York.

A lot of young actors look up to me, and I wouldn't trade that for any money in the world. I don't want to lose their respect and be a hypocrite.

Actors have bodyguards and entourages not because anybody wants to hurt them - who would want to hurt an actor? - but because they want to get recognized. God forbid someone doesn't recognize them.

I didn't have parents I could take a million dollars from. We were a lower-class family.

I turned down 'Cuckoo's Nest' four times before Jack got it.

Unless I love something or hate it, I don't want to deal with it.

I never saw my dad cry. My son saw me cry. My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. The point is, I'll make less mistakes than my dad, my sons hopefully will make less mistakes than me, and their sons will make less mistakes than their dads.