I started improvising the Cliff character, based on someone I grew up with.

- John Ratzenberger

Two days later I got a call that they wanted to try out the character for seven episodes. Eleven years and 22 Emmys later, Cliff was still sitting at that bar.

- John Ratzenberger

There are times over different projects when I've asked the writers why people are swearing for no good reason. I tell them that it would be funnier if there weren't these swear words.

- John Ratzenberger

It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans will be watching on the tube have never been to the United States. Not the real United States.

- John Ratzenberger

I'm concerned about the insidious influence of the media's bad messages that undermine the lessons parents try to instill in their sons and daughters.

- John Ratzenberger

After all, at end of the day, when you're breathing your last, it's not your producer, director, or cast mates by your bedside; it's your children. Keep that in mind.

- John Ratzenberger

You've got to write for your audience.

- John Ratzenberger

When I go to the garage to pick up my clubs, I clean the spider webs off.

- John Ratzenberger

There are technologies you couldn't predict at all when I started.

- John Ratzenberger

Sure, the comedians who swear or use scatological humor can get laughs, but they're uncomfortable laughs.

- John Ratzenberger

So many people aren't ready for Hollywood - professionally or practically.

- John Ratzenberger

So many actors have sheer guts, will, and determination; they just need some preparation.

- John Ratzenberger

On my visits back home, if they saw that I was getting a big head, they'd let me know right away.

- John Ratzenberger

In L.A., though, people get off busses calling themselves actors, so many are really not professionals.

- John Ratzenberger

I've turned down projects based on raunchiness before.

- John Ratzenberger

I'd never been to acting school, so I never thought I'd get this far.

- John Ratzenberger

The last thing on my mind was to be an actor, but I had a crush on a cute girl in the drama department, so the best thing for me to do was audition, help out, do carpentry, whatever it took to get me on that project.

- John Ratzenberger

Hollywood has lost touch with their audience a long time ago.

- John Ratzenberger

From what I can see, too many kids don't learn pride in their country anymore.

- John Ratzenberger

Before 1972, no actors got residuals. They just got paid. No residuals.

- John Ratzenberger