Quotes

[about his Oscar-winning role in West Side Story (1961)] I wouldn't mind even if it's the ONLY thing people remember me for. It was a privilege just to be there and to contribute to something so wonderful. The last scene still gets me every time. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Working with [Jerome] Robbins was the greatest experience I ever had, because it was Jerry who first showed me how a dancer could express himself in dancing rhythms and how an actor could intensify his dramatic performance with the graceful, expressive body movements of a dancer.

[on his studio contract] If they didn't have specific work by the pay deadline, they'd stick you in anything. So I wasn't always used well.

You do have to keep visible, but keeping visible with good material is very difficult.

The parallel between acting and making jewelry is quite similar. There is discipline, patience, persistence and dedication in making both successful.

[on kids picking on others and being unkind to them] Later, I was asked to join a fraternity and I didn't join it for that reason. I did not appreciate nor like that some kids were treated that way.

I wasn't having a great time making movies. I'd have loved better material.

Dancing is such an incredible means of expression, even if it's just in dance class.

[on Pale Blood, his last film, 1990] Ooooh, that was a tough one. I took it because the writer-director had come up with this totally different take on a vampire film. But lo, and I don't know what happened, SHE got replaced and a producer ended up directing it. I ended up not doing anything in it; it was boring, I thought. I've never seen it. I never want to see it. I know if I did, I wouldn't like it.

I love acting, especially in the theater, and I'd love to look at more opportunities, but the jewelry continues to be the dominant thing for me.

[on his jewelry design] It would be a wonderful collaborative effort to design a special one-of-a-kind piece for someone. The process of doing it is the exciting, creative part...and that would be a total joy to undertake.

[on making jewelry] It's so nice to be able to create something and have a beautiful finished piece to hold in your hand.

[on his jewelry business] I don't like the business side of it at all. I like designing the jewelry pieces.

I used to love every movie musical I saw. There was one that stood out, The Barclays of Broadway. When I first heard about it, I couldn't wait for it to open. I was counting the days. Finally, it came. I took the bus downtown to see it. One the way home, my neck hurt, I kept touching my neck. I had the mumps. So it seems I saw the movie in just the nick of time.

[on Marilyn Monroe and her work on the Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)] She worked so hard. Every time we had a break, she went right back to her place to wait and start up again.