Nathan Lane Quotes

What about Broadway? Yes, I'm involved with a new musical based on 'The Adams Family.'

There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground with me.

He's so interesting because you think you know Dennis Hopper, but you don't really know Dennis Hopper. I don't really know Dennis Hopper, I just know him from the silver screen.

I'll always go back to the stage.

All I can do is try to create the best show possible, and I feel we've truly done that.

A sitcom is the closest thing for me to doing stage because you work in front of an audience, and if it's well written it can be very satisfying.

I got to do the movie, and people who enjoyed 'The Birdcage' came out to see me on stage when I did 'Forum.' It introduced me to a whole new audience that wasn't familiar with my stage work.

Not to sound too pessimistic, but I just don't see me having the film career that I maybe hoped for after 'The Birdcage.' I think people just didn't know what to do with me.

A video taped stage performance is just - you know, it's never gonna be the same as it is if you're sitting there live in the theatre.

There's a freedom there and an understanding of my career and the things I've done. I'm seen here as primarily a comic actor, which is OK, but I can go to New York and I do something that's very emotional. It would be lovely at some point to do something like that on film.

But in order for anyone to become successful, sometimes you have to be that driven and focused, and maybe there isn't a lot left over for personal relationships
although I certainly have had them. It's not as if I cut myself off, but it makes them very difficult. This profession is very hard on relationships.

There are some people that the press like to pick on and not just the gay press, but the press in general. And some people, the press just doesn't care about at all.

It's a cliche, but there really is no handbook about the celebrity thing; you have to figure it out as you go along.

I never like seeing myself on screen.

If you've seen Mary Poppins and The Grinch, come to the Booth Theater and let me shove a little coal down your stocking.

I am not a sad clown. I am not a sad clown.

Take a shot of vodka and hope for the best.

I'm one of those old-fashioned homosexuals, not one of the newfangled ones who are born joining parades.

The more competition, the better. I hope to get snubbed again this year.

I'm still the fat kid from high school who never had a date.

I was born Joseph Lane, but when I applied to the actors union, they said they already had a Joe Lane on the books and I'd have to change my last or first name. I had played the character of Nathan Detroit, whom I liked very much, in 'Guys and Dolls,' so I took the name Nathan.

'The Producers' is a sort of a once in a lifetime kind of phenomenon, and I was grateful to be a part of it.

Kevin Costner. I love Kevin Costner. That's all I have to say. I love Kevin Costner.

My oldest brother used to take me to the theater. The first play he took me to see was 'Black Comedy,' then he took me to see 'Butley.' We'd see all these British plays. And 'Hello, Dolly,' with Pearl Bailey. I was unconsciously thinking, 'Gee, I would love to be able to do that.'

Relationships, for me, have been elusive. And I would say mostly it's been my fault. I was always more concentrated on my career. And yes, you do question people's motives. Is it just because I'm him - I'm Nathan Lane?

Sure I think it is healthy to speak the truth, and be who you are, and be proud of that.

I have my aluminum siding business, and that's going like a house afire.

One of the nicest compliments I would get very often on the street is people would say, 'I love you on 'The Good Wife.' I just can't tell whether I should like you or hate you!'

People always think I'm Jewish and changed my last name from Rabinowitz.

As a kid, I loved 'Godot' because of the poetry and the humor and the strangeness, but then as you get older, it's much more resonant.

I have to accept the fact that, no matter what I do, it's going to annoy someone.

I didn't know Charlie before doing the movie, but I was a huge fan of the British Queer as Folk.

Look, I'm 40, I'm single, and I work in musical theater - you do the math!