Michael Cudlitz quotes:

I paid my way through school doing set construction for film and television. I'm a member of Local 44. I was a construction coordinator on 'Beverly Hills 90210' for 4 1/2 years and ran their whole construction program. I did two other pilots as a coordinator for Aaron Spelling.

I think a lot of high-profile artists like to make people think that. 'Oh, I'm trying to choose my next project.' This is a job. Sometimes your next job is so you can provide for your family; your kids are 16 and getting ready to go to college.

Most people don't like challenges at work. Actors love challenges at work.

You've got to get your mind connected to the workout. Pay attention to what your body's doing. It's about connecting mind and the body. Visualize the muscles moving.

Everybody works in a different way, and I've worked with actors that have no training whatsoever who are phenomenal.

Don't listen to anybody. Nobody knows the magic bullet. If they did, they'd sell it and make a fortune. Follow your gut. Follow your instincts. Every once in a while, take a chance.

I think a lot of high-profile artists like to make people think that. Oh, Im trying to choose my next project. This is a job. Sometimes your next job is so you can provide for your family; your kids are 16 and getting ready to go to college.

As an actor, you try to put a little bit of yourself in everything you do.

Interestingly enough, my more high-profile things are in uniform. But if you look at my full body of work, there's a lot of stuff that's not in uniform. But I do a lot of stuff in the service, and I think that's just how I'm built physically. It just serves the roles.

If you'd asked me after 'Band of Brothers' what thing I wanted to do next, I certainly never would have imagined 'Southland.'

Sometimes you walk out of an audition and you kind of know you nailed it and you're probably going to book it, but you very rarely are told in the room by the people who are hiring you.

Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people in different ways and that they remember.

I learned construction and carpentry from my father at a young age, so I felt very comfortable and I felt very satisfied when I worked in that field.

Comedy is important! When youre having a stressful day, and you come home, you want to watch something that makes you laugh.

I've enjoyed the time I've had working on films. I've enjoyed television movie-of-the-week format. I've enjoyed the few comedies that I've done, and I've enjoyed one-hour television.

I've had some really wonderful opportunities in my career, 'Band of Brothers' being one of them. That's material that can really make a difference, but I don't think of that going into it - at least not consciously.

I just had a really good time when I did my voice work for Call of Duty. Ive had nothing but great interaction with Activision.

A lot of times, actors give so much power to the producers and the producing companies because, quite frankly, they have it. But we don't take the limited power that we have, which the power you initially have is to say 'no.' But 'no' in a positive way.

Comedy is important! When you're having a stressful day, and you come home, you want to watch something that makes you laugh.

I can't play video games because I get too nervous. It just stresses me out.

I just had a really good time when I did my voice work for 'Call of Duty.' I've had nothing but great interaction with Activision.

I've always worked out. I've always gone to the gym. But it was always a chore, and it was always, like, 'Man, I've gotta go do this because if I don't I'll get all dumpy and out of shape and then no one will hire me for good roles.'

If you disarm someone's hands - they cannot kill you!

Games are another place to find work, not only the voice stuff but in the motion capture stuff. It's exciting work.

I want to remind people that there is no soundtrack in 'Southland;' there is no scored music or soundtrack telling you what you're supposed to feel.

The lifespan of any show is to end in cancellation.

Actors work for many reasons. Sometimes you do it because the material is good. Sometimes you do it because the paycheck is good. We would love to only do things that are art, that are artistic and that satisfy us, but this is our job, as well.

Dont listen to anybody. Nobody knows the magic bullet. If they did, theyd sell it and make a fortune. Follow your gut. Follow your instincts. Every once in a while, take a chance.

I did what I could to keep up the ruse. I was travelling quite a bit, so any opportunity I could, I would travel through Atlanta and stay a day or so. I'd make sure I was 'seen' in some of Atlanta's restaurants. And I dyed my hair the whole time, every two weeks, to keep the haircut.

I much prefer the company of the crew, the sort of 'blue-collar working person.' I much more have that sensibility than what the public perceives as what a typical actor would have.

If youd asked me after Band of Brothers what thing I wanted to do next, I certainly never would have imagined Southland.

I've always worked out. I've always gone to the gym. But it was always a chore, and it was always, like, 'Man, I've gotta go do this because if I don't I'll get all dumpy and out of shape and then no one will hire me for good roles.

The fact that I am able to live a life and act and to do all of those things and support myself and my family is a gift.

The truth just happens - lies take time to make.

We all know from growing up with TV that John Wells shows are usually very large ensembles with amazingly written characters. He tends to redefine the way stories are told in a specific genre, whether it's 'China Beach,' 'The West Wing,' or 'E.R.

When script is written well, then you start to make decisions of, "Well, do I want to be away from home for that long? Do I like the people involved?" When it's written well, a lot of those things go away and you can't not do it.

You've gotta take care of the body you've got. You've got to be fit. You've got to be active. You've got to be healthy. We don't need to be pictures in a magazine.

My favorite part about going to the gym used to be leaving.