Born to Alice Cooper and Charles Cooper (not in film business). Gary attended school at Dunstable school England, Helena Montana and Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa. His first stage experience was during high school and college. Afterwards, he worked as an extra for one year before getting a part in a two reeler by Hans Tissler (an independent produce...
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Born to Alice Cooper and Charles Cooper (not in film business). Gary attended school at Dunstable school England, Helena Montana and Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa. His first stage experience was during high school and college. Afterwards, he worked as an extra for one year before getting a part in a two reeler by Hans Tissler (an independent producer). Eileen Sedgwick was his first leading lady. He then appeared in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) for United Artists before moving to Paramount. While there he appeared in a small part in Wings (1927), It (1927), and other films. Show less «
[on his fellow actors] I've been with some good ones, but maybe the best was Franchot Tone. I made t...Show more »
[on his fellow actors] I've been with some good ones, but maybe the best was Franchot Tone. I made two pictures with him and he stole both of them. Something went wrong with how he was handled; or who knows, maybe it was Joan Crawford. But he had everything - great at comedy and also at serious stuff if given the chance. Now The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) is one hell of a picture, but you could take me right out of it and it would still be one. But it couldn't be much without Tone. Show less «
[after Clark Gable ended up with the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939)] "Gone with t...Show more »
[after Clark Gable ended up with the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939)] "Gone with the Wind" is going to be the biggest flop in history. Show less «
[1952] I like and admire Carl Foreman and am delighted to be in business with him.
[1952] I like and admire Carl Foreman and am delighted to be in business with him.
Having to work hard never had any real appeal for me, and that may have some connection with me bein...Show more »
Having to work hard never had any real appeal for me, and that may have some connection with me being in the movies. Show less «
To get folks to like you, I figured you had to sort of be their ideal. I don't mean a handsome knigh...Show more »
To get folks to like you, I figured you had to sort of be their ideal. I don't mean a handsome knight riding a white horse, but a fellow who answered the description of a right guy. Show less «
I've had lines on my face since I was twenty. Wind and sun put them there.
I've had lines on my face since I was twenty. Wind and sun put them there.
Naturally, the nearer the character you play comes to the character you are, the more authenticity y...Show more »
Naturally, the nearer the character you play comes to the character you are, the more authenticity you give it. You are not acting so much as being. The result is realism. Show less «
Nan Collins, my manager, came from Gary, Indiana, and suggested I adopt that name. She felt it was m...Show more »
Nan Collins, my manager, came from Gary, Indiana, and suggested I adopt that name. She felt it was more exciting than Frank. I figured I'd give it a try. Good thing she didn't come from Poughkeepsie. Show less «
[23 October 1947] Several years ago, when communism was more of a social chit-chatter in parties for...Show more »
[23 October 1947] Several years ago, when communism was more of a social chit-chatter in parties for offices, and so on when communism didn't have the implications that it has now, discussion of communism was more open and I remember hearing statements from some folks to the effect that the communistic system had a great many features that were desirable. It offered the actors and artists - in other words, the creative people - a special place in government where we would be somewhat immune from the ordinary leveling of income. And as I remember, some actor's name was mentioned to me who had a house in Moscow which was very large - he had three cars, and stuff, with his house being quite a bit larger than my house in Beverly Hills at the time - and it looked to me like a pretty phony come-on to us in the picture business. From that time on, I could never take any of this pinko mouthing very seriously, because I didn't feel it was on the level. Show less «
[on banning the Communist party in the US] I think it would be a good idea, although I have never re...Show more »
[on banning the Communist party in the US] I think it would be a good idea, although I have never read Karl Marx and I don't know the basis of Communism, beyond what I have picked up from hearsay. From what I hear, I don't like it because it isn't on the level. Show less «
[asked if he ever wanted to act on the stage] Not since I was at Grinnell. When I gave them the stor...Show more »
[asked if he ever wanted to act on the stage] Not since I was at Grinnell. When I gave them the story that I was trying to do a Broadway play, I must have been desperate for publicity. I figured it didn't matter what I said. I learned very early that nothing you ever say gets quoted verbatim by the press. So for many years I may have clammed up, but I guess I've reached an age where I don't particularly care. Anyway, I talk. Show less «
Movie acting is a pretty silly business for a man because it takes less training, less ability and l...Show more »
Movie acting is a pretty silly business for a man because it takes less training, less ability and less brains to be successful in it than any other business I can think of. Show less «
If you hit the mark with two out of every five movies you'll keep the wheels of the cycle turning.
If you hit the mark with two out of every five movies you'll keep the wheels of the cycle turning.
[on Sergeant York (1941)] I liked the role because I was portraying a good, sound American character...Show more »
[on Sergeant York (1941)] I liked the role because I was portraying a good, sound American character. Show less «
My whole career has been one of extreme good fortune. I think I'm an average actor . . . In acting y...Show more »
My whole career has been one of extreme good fortune. I think I'm an average actor . . . In acting you can do something and maybe . . . some people think it's fine, but you know inside of you that it can be done better . . . You don't feel that you really attained a goal in the acting business; you always feel that you're still learning. Show less «
[February, 1942, accepting his Academy Award for Sergeant York (1941) from James Stewart] It was Ser...Show more »
[February, 1942, accepting his Academy Award for Sergeant York (1941) from James Stewart] It was Sergeant Alvin York [Alvin C. York] who won this award. Because to the best of my ability, I tried to be Sergeant York. Shucks, I've been in the business 16 years and sometimes dreamed I might get one of these things. That's all I can say . . . Funny, when I was dreaming I always made a good speech. Show less «
[in 1960] People hang on after they should quit, because the urge to act stays with you. Sometimes i...Show more »
[in 1960] People hang on after they should quit, because the urge to act stays with you. Sometimes in the middle of a scene I find myself saying a piece of dialog from 15 years ago. I've thought of retiring lots of times, but then I think I would just go nuts, and probably spend all my time searching for a really great Western script. Show less «
[in 1958, on "Method" actors] It is hard to dig them because they move like hermit crabs - they have...Show more »
[in 1958, on "Method" actors] It is hard to dig them because they move like hermit crabs - they have to have a shell to crawl into and they don't want anyone to get to know them . . . They are offbeat and strange and always thinking about themselves. They are always asking themselves, "Where do I fit in; what's in it for me?" These youngsters are doing it the hard way. They make a thorough study of being natural and being unnatural. The girls go around looking like they're made up for a death scene in a hospital room. I don't know why if a girl goes out in public she wants to make herself look ugly instead of a little bit attractive. Show less «
I put in a call to Clark Gable to tell him about some deer I'd heard were running loose up in the Ca...Show more »
I put in a call to Clark Gable to tell him about some deer I'd heard were running loose up in the Canadian Rockies. I was told he was on location . . . in Hong Kong. I called Robert Taylor. He was on location, too, in Italy, unless he had finished there and gone to England. James Stewart was in Africa. In the old days a company that went as far away as Texas was thought to be forsaking civilization for good. Today these countries are just part of the Hollywood scene and it's as [William Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage". Show less «
Once in a while I like a good western. Gives me a chance to shoot off guns.
Once in a while I like a good western. Gives me a chance to shoot off guns.
[on Josef von Sternberg] It was apparent that von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich had a very close pr...Show more »
[on Josef von Sternberg] It was apparent that von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich had a very close professional relationship. But it was only, in my experience, professional, without any love element. I got along with von Sternberg reasonably well, as all his direction and his instructions were given to Marlene, and the rest of us were left more or less to do as well as we could. I cannot remember that he ever told me how to play a scene. Show less «
[on turning down the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939)] Rhett Butler was one of the ...Show more »
[on turning down the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939)] Rhett Butler was one of the best roles ever offered in Hollywood and my screen character saw himself emerging from the film as a dashing-type fellow. But I said no. I didn't see myself as quite that dashing, and later, when I saw Clark Gable play the role to perfection, I knew I was right. Show less «
I suppose one of the most important things about real beauty is intelligence, and real womanliness -...Show more »
I suppose one of the most important things about real beauty is intelligence, and real womanliness - it's a combination of intelligence and all the instincts of womanhood, motherhood, and the beauty of girlhood. These things all sort of go in together, and they are in so many people who are not reputed beauties. Show less «
[to Robert Taylor after both had appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947]...Show more »
[to Robert Taylor after both had appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947] I got a much bigger hand than you did. Show less «
[1956] A man like Arthur Miller, he's got a gripe against certain phases of American life. I think h...Show more »
[1956] A man like Arthur Miller, he's got a gripe against certain phases of American life. I think he's done a lot of bad. Ours is a pretty good country and I don't think we ought to run it down. Sure there are fellows like Willy Loman, but you don't have to write plays about them. Show less «
People ask me how come you've been around so long. Well, it's through playing the part of Mr Average...Show more »
People ask me how come you've been around so long. Well, it's through playing the part of Mr Average Joe American. Show less «
I don't like to see exaggerated airs and exploding egos in people who are already established. No pl...Show more »
I don't like to see exaggerated airs and exploding egos in people who are already established. No player ever rises to prominence solely on talent. They're molded by forces other than themselves. They should remember this - and at least twice a week drop to their knees and thank Providence for elevating them from cow ranches, dime store ribbon counters and bookkeeping desks. Show less «
[on Rio Bravo (1959)] It's so phony, nobody believes in it.
[on Rio Bravo (1959)] It's so phony, nobody believes in it.
[in 1931] I haven't read a half a dozen books in my life.
[in 1931] I haven't read a half a dozen books in my life.
[on Hollywood] This is a terrible place to spend your life in. Nobody in Hollywood is normal. Absolu...Show more »
[on Hollywood] This is a terrible place to spend your life in. Nobody in Hollywood is normal. Absolutely nobody. And they have such a vicious attitude toward one another . . . They say much worse things about each other than outsiders say about them, and nobody has any real friends. Show less «
[following a 1943 USO tour to New Guinea] There's no coin in Hollywood, rich as it is, that can pay ...Show more »
[following a 1943 USO tour to New Guinea] There's no coin in Hollywood, rich as it is, that can pay a fellow the way I've been paid for my little effort on behalf of the G.I.s out there. It was the greatest emotional experience of my life. Show less «
[1960] Nothing I've done lately, the past eight years or so, has been especially worthwhile. I've be...Show more »
[1960] Nothing I've done lately, the past eight years or so, has been especially worthwhile. I've been coasting along. Some of the pictures I've made recently I'm genuinely sorry about. Either I did a sloppy job in them, or the story wasn't right. Show less «
Naturalness is hard to talk about, but I guess it boils down to this: You find out what people expec...Show more »
Naturalness is hard to talk about, but I guess it boils down to this: You find out what people expect of your type of character and then you give them what they want. That way an actor never seems unnatural or affected no matter what role he plays. Show less «
[October 1947] I have turned down quite a few scripts because I thought they were tinged with Commun...Show more »
[October 1947] I have turned down quite a few scripts because I thought they were tinged with Communistic ideas. Show less «
You've got to have a fire under you, and when you're beginning, you've got one all the time. After y...Show more »
You've got to have a fire under you, and when you're beginning, you've got one all the time. After you get established, you have to create your own fire, and it's never easy. Show less «
[on Grace Kelly] She was very serious about her work, had her eyes and ears open. She was trying to ...Show more »
[on Grace Kelly] She was very serious about her work, had her eyes and ears open. She was trying to learn, you could see that. You can tell if a person really wants to be an actress. She was one of those people you could get that feeling about, and she was very pretty. It didn't surprise me when she was a big success. Show less «
The only achievement I am really proud of is the friends I have made in this community.
The only achievement I am really proud of is the friends I have made in this community.
[on Cary Grant] I say he's a crack comedian, and isn't competition for me at all.
[on Cary Grant] I say he's a crack comedian, and isn't competition for me at all.
[in April 1961] Please make sure everyone knows how much their messages mean to me. They have added ...Show more »
[in April 1961] Please make sure everyone knows how much their messages mean to me. They have added greatly to my peace of mind. I only wish some of the writers would take a more positive approach to the menace of cancer. I've got it, sure; but I'm not afraid to use the word. Some of them act like it's a dirty word. That's the wrong attitude. We should all bring it out in the open, recognize that it exists - and fight it! Cancer is everybody's enemy. We can't "think" an enemy out of existence by ignoring it. Show less «
(at a Friars Club testimonial dinner in 1961) If you asked me if I'm the luckiest guy in the world, ...Show more »
(at a Friars Club testimonial dinner in 1961) If you asked me if I'm the luckiest guy in the world, all I can say is, "Yup". Show less «
Until I came along all the leading men were handsome, but luckily they wrote a lot of stories about ...Show more »
Until I came along all the leading men were handsome, but luckily they wrote a lot of stories about the fellow next door. Show less «
In my whole life I've never had a woman so much in love with me as Ingrid Bergman was. The day after...Show more »
In my whole life I've never had a woman so much in love with me as Ingrid Bergman was. The day after the picture [For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) ended, I couldn't get her on the phone. Show less «
For me the really satisfying things I do are offered me, free, for nothing. Ever go out in the fall ...Show more »
For me the really satisfying things I do are offered me, free, for nothing. Ever go out in the fall and do a little hunting? See the frost on the grass and the leaves turning? Spend a day in the hills alone, or with good companions? Watch a sunset and a moon rise? Notice a bird in the wind? A stream in the woods, a storm at sea, cross the country by train, and catch a glimpse of something beautiful in the desert, or the farmlands? Free to everybody. Show less «
[October 1947] I feel very strongly that actors haven't any business at all to shoot their faces off...Show more »
[October 1947] I feel very strongly that actors haven't any business at all to shoot their faces off about things I know we know very little about. Show less «
All this business about me never saying anything is a piece of crap.
All this business about me never saying anything is a piece of crap.
[after visiting Nazi Germany in 1938] There's no question in my mind that those people want to have ...Show more »
[after visiting Nazi Germany in 1938] There's no question in my mind that those people want to have a war. They're determined to be a world power and seem to feel that's the only way to become one. Those storm troopers are awesome. The atmosphere in Berlin - well, I've never sensed such tension. Show less «
