Quotes

I got typecast as a heavy. There's no reason in the world for me to be a heavy, none. People love to put handles on you. They're not thinking about you, they're thinking about themselves. You have to be creative or else; if you're creative, then they'll go with you, but they want the easy way out.

I'm a very lucky guy in certain aspects. I've enjoyed my life. It's not the end of it -- I'm still enjoying it.

[comment from an interview in 1985] I think the reason that I haven't disappeared as a popular "heavy" is that the heavies I play are all leaders. I never play a wishy-washy anything. They're interesting roles because when you leave the theater you remember these kinds of guys.

If you come from the ghetto, you're automatically stamped stupid. Living in a ghetto? Stupid, no education. Which is unfortunate, because the guys were articulate, they were bright, they had their own gyms, and they had their own businesses. They were really striving to overcome their environment. Which was really exciting for me, because like I say I come from the ghetto.

[from an interview in 1971] Funny thing over here [United States] they see me as a bad guy; in Europe they see me as a hero.