Quotes

[at age 10]: I don't even get an allowance.

It drives me crazy when your parents try to read your mind. It's even worse when they try to read your mail.

[Just how rich is he?]: I could sit around with my thumb up my butt watching TV and my kids would still go to college!

[on his new sitcom deal with NBC]: With Friends (1994) biting the dust, the time could now be right for my show.

[Responding to questions about his estranged father, May 27, 2004.]: My father was overbearing. Very controlling. He was always the way he is, even before my success. He was not always a good person. He'd play mind games to make sure I knew my place. I don't see him, which is unfortunate. But I don't have any desire to see him. I vaguely know where he is, and I don't want to know. As long as he's not standing outside my doorstep, I'm fine.

[on his friendship with Michael Jackson]: Michael and I had an understanding about my father. He knew what that was all about. He'd lived it. It's not like I can just bump into people on the street and say, Oh! You too! It doesn't happen that often. Michael's still a kid. I'm still a kid. We're both going to be about 8 years old forever in some place because we never had a chance to be 8 when we actually were. That's kind of the beautiful and the cursed part of our lives.

I just remember the exact point when I was growing a little more tired, during The Good Son (1993). I had already done one or two things that year, and I just said to Kit, "Listen, I'm really getting tired and I'm not at school as much as I'd like to be. I really need some time off". He said, "Yeah, sure" and the next thing I knew I was on the next set doing the next thing and it just kind of clicked in my brain: "Okay. There's basically nothing I can do to make this stop".

Contrary to popular belief, I've never been to rehab. I've never been to jail, never been arrested. All the child-star clichés. I've tried very hard to avoid them all.

[on Party Monster (2003)'s script]: When I was first sent the script, I threw it in the garbage like I did with every other script I was sent at the time. I was basically retired.

People still recognize me all the time on the street. The first thing they say when they stop me is, "Where have you been?" The second comment they make is always, "Oh, you've grown up." I'm not one of those actors who needs the media spotlight all the time to feel gratified. I'm happy to do one project a year and take the rest of the year off as long as that project is special.

I had all the fame anyone could want, and I ran away from it.

Most of the offers I get from Hollywood are for teen comedies. My manager thinks I'm crazy for turning down all that money, but I'm very picky. I'd made enough money by the time I was 12 to never have to work again, so it's not about a big check with me. It's about finding unique, one-of-a-kind films that I would want to see myself. I think Party Monster (2003) is one of those.

[March 2006]: Acting found me. I thought maybe I should try to find it again. We'll see.