I know it affected me when I saw certain actors growing up. I had a drama teacher that would take us to see plays in New York, and it was seeing James Earl Jones and Raul Julia - I mean, this guy comes from the place my mother comes from. He's doing Shakespeare right now, and it doesn't seem to matter that he has an accent.

Growing up in New York, we lived all around the city depending on our economic circumstance. I also lived in Puerto Rico for a number of years.

When I sit down and sign up for something, I vet where the people are coming from.

California has been very good to me in terms of the professional arena.

Film was nothing like television; there was a craft to it, and I realized how much hard work was needed. It was not some mindless, two-bit job that only requires you to look good.

I spent more than 20 years of my professional career researching and developing renewable energy sources.

During my past career as a journalist, I relished writing obits and equally dreaded phoning relatives for the necessary facts. But to my surprise and great relief, they often wanted to talk - they wanted their recently deceased loved ones recorded in print.

I'm miserable: that's why I have such a bad back, because I'm endlessly stressing out about my career.