Biography

The writers and producers of The Simpsons (1989) have joked semi-seriously that if there was ever a live-action version of the series, then he would be the perfect choice to play Ned Flanders.

Auditioned for the role of Brian on the sitcom Family Guy (1999), which went to the show's creator Seth MacFarlane.

Lived with Felicity Huffman for 15 years before they married in 1997.

His agent tried to discourage him from reading the script for Boogie Nights (1997), but he read it anyway, loved it, and signed on to do the film.

When he was introduced during the 1997 Academy Awards (his first nomination, for Fargo (1996)), he was incorrectly referred to by the voice-over announcer as the former star of the sitcom Maude (1972), which was actually comedian Bill Macy.

Nobody became an actor because he had a good childhood.

[on playing losers] When you do something well, they'll ask you to do it again. Early on I must have done this well and the reputation was out there. It's strange because in my life, I don't feel like a loser. Far from it. I feel lucky.

For a performer to get rage, or to get hostility or shock or any kind of emotions from the audience is a joy. The thing I think actors fear the most is boredom or inattention. That's what kills me.

I've always felt everything you need is on the page. I used to load my wallet with fake IDs and know what was outside the door down the imaginary hallway. I would do a history for the character, but that's a whole lot of work, and one day I thought, "I wonder what would happen if I didn't do that," and the answer was, "Nothing". Nothing. It doesn't help you. For an actor, the real issue is the moment-to-moment.

[on making Boogie Nights (1997)] One of my first days was the scene in which Dirk Diggler wins the Golden Phallus Award. In the audience were 100 extras who had been told to wear their finest 1970s clothes. All they knew was that this was a Burt Reynolds film. They're sitting there, and the director says, "All right, let's give it a shot. When she announces the winner, you all applaud." Melora Walters walks up to the microphone, opens the envelope and, with that fabulous little voice of hers, says, "And the winner is--and I can't wait to get his big cock in my mouth and my ass and my pussy--Dirk Diggler!" There was a stunned silence, and literally half the extras walked out, got in their cars and drove home. We were shut down for a while until they could get another set of extras. The next time, the director described the scene and told them what they were in for.