Quotes

Thanks to the Japanese and Geronimo, John Wayne became a millionaire.

I still have a young attitude.

You may have heard that back in the States there are some people who are smoking grass. I don't know how you feel, but it's sure easier than cutting the stuff.

I don't know of any other creature on earth other than man that will sit in a corner and cry because of some painful experience in the past.

"Hip Nip," [a nickname given to him by a musician] just sounds groovy. A drummer laid it on me.

I began in an era where four-letter words were not allowed.

I went from being an ailing child to a public enemy.

A lot happens in 20 years.

I didn't have a childhood.

I never was able to do karate. That's calling me a good actor. I act like I can do anything.

[at the time] The idea of a Japanese comedian was not only a rarity, it was non-existent.

[Upon being nominated for the Oscar] I'm awkward at these things. Just being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for [The Karate Kid (1984)] was a real surprise and I was a little uncomfortable.

I'm in semi-retirement, but what am I going to retire to? I don't ride horses, I don't golf anymore. I shoot a game of pool every now and then.

Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did.

It's been a career filled with very low valleys and some wonderful, high peaks.

I've been working on my autobiography, just pecking away in longhand. The more you write, the more you remember. The more you remember, the more detail you recall. It's not all pleasant!