[More advice] (A newcomer) should audition for virtually everything, whether or not he's ethnically right for the part. And this is especially true for African-American actors.

[Advice to young actors] Remember that the producer, director and casting director - all of them - are in that audition because they have a problem. The actor is there to solve the problem. There is no reason for the actor to be overwhelmed.

My life and work ethic comes from the business world, but I envy those who have been through conservatories because they've had the choice to delve into character study in a way I never did. But at the same time I've heard horror stories about acting teachers at these places who've said to students 'You have no talent and you'll never work'. I don't know if I could have pursued a theater career if I had been told that at a young age.