Michael Madsen quotes:

Children recognize me from Free Willy, and their parents recognize me from Reservoir Dogs. The kids are like, 'There's Glen,' and the parents are like, 'Don't go near that guy.'

Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else.

Is it really selling out if it feeds your family?

You know, every movie you make can't be great, no matter who you are.

My career has been very strange. My career is like a heart monitor. I get involved in a good project now and then to keep things going. And then I make things that I work on that I hope are going to be good so I can make a living and keep a roof over the heads of those little monsters I have in my house.

Your children don't have to fear you to respect you.

I probably made a few pictures I shouldn't have done, but I have four sons and I have to pay the rent. If you have a decision to make about whether or not you can buy groceries at the market or whether or not you're going to make a bad movie, you're going to make a bad movie.

I don't think I'm predominantly thought of as being a comedic actor.

Well, one thing for sure, I won't be remembered for 'Free Willy.' Or maybe I will.

Kids are a great excuse for you to stop acting like one.

I don't have a boss . . . nobody tells me what to do.

I've learned my lesson over the years about what to say and what not to say in interviews, that's for sure.

I've never been able to read for anything, and every time I have, I've never gotten the part. And I don't know why that is. I just can't. Reading or auditioning for something... It's like it's this mental block in my brain, and I just can't do it. But when people ask you to do stuff without making you go through that, it's a much more pleasant experience.

Well, he's got a much bigger circus to play with, and he has a lot more financing available, and he has a lot more time available. I think that makes a huge difference. I think he instinctively knows how to make films and all the different ways that you can make stuff. He's very gadget-wise, and he's very smart about all the different things that are available to a filmmaker nowadays, and he makes very good use of them. He has a theater in his house, for God's sake. It has proper curtains on it and everything. It's pretty wild.

When you play a character that's someone real, when you're playing a true story, it's really great, 'cause you're not pretending to make up some silly thing.

You kids shouldn't play so rough . . . somebody's gonna start crying.