I could do John Wayne, Jack Benny, Jack Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and entertain my friends. But I never seriously considered it as a career choice.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Originally I studied as a musician, a classical pianist. That was my career before I took up acting in my late 20s.
I would love to have a varied career, like Hugh Jackman. He started in musical theater, then established himself in film, but he still does a lot of stage work. And he does it all beautifully.
There's not one major greatest influence on my career. It would be film and great artists and great imagineers - Jim Henson, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, people who understand the joy of the imagination.
I grew up around acting, but it was never thought of as a career.
My job is essentially that of an entertainer, no different to that of a musician, no different to that of an actor. I just happen to be an author.
I have often been told that I have many of the same mannerisms as Jack Benny and certainly Bob Cummings.
As a child I wanted to be everything from a doctor, lawyer, flight attendant to an IT pro- fessional and could never make up my mind. I figured as an actor I'd get to play all these professions.
Well, I was sort of a jack-of-all-trades in show business for a long time. I was a singer and a dancer and then I got a job as an actor.
Working with Benny was important for me and for black musicians in general.
I'd have no trouble being the barbecue kingpin of America. I'd just add it to all the other things I am: jazz musician, carpenter, architect, engineer and revolutionary.