“My biggest roles on Broadway were comedy parts. And they took me to Hollywood. When I reached there, all I received in rapid succession was one straight light role after another. It looked hopeless for any serious acting, until casting was begun for ‘Evelyn Prentice.”
“One of the reasons I don`t have kids is because I think people would have been very unfair to them. Think of it. You`re still asking me questions about 'The Exorcist'.”
[When asked by co-presenter Ray Bolger at the 1979 Oscar awards why he got to announce the winner] “Well, when your son produces the show, YOU can announce the winner!”
“I wanted to give up my career when I married Joel, but he wouldn’t let me. I thought marriage, a home, husband and family were all I wanted. Joel knew I was sincere in my belief but he was wise enough to realize that sooner or later I might miss my work and blame him.”
“I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from the people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cutthroat, competitive world in which I spent my life.”
“Hollywood is fear-filled. You only need to be there when the sun is not shining to notice the grim determination and the need to be on every billboard. Every meeting has some agenda. People smile in case you might be of use 10 years down the line.”
[On Sleepaway Camp] “They wanted me to do all the killings…they wanted my hands… and my Mom right away said that she really didn’t want me to do that because she felt like it would kind of disturb me at age 13."