Powers Boothe

Powers Boothe: (why his Deadwood character smokes cigars) The cigar just gives me room to express [Cy's] feelings. From contemplation to contempt. On set the first day, they divided up the cast and crew between smokers and nonsmokers, and I had a thought: well, hell, this character has to do something. Let him smoke cigars.

Powers Boothe: (Describing his 24 character) I don't think he's misguided at all. You had a nuke go off in [California], and people are sitting around wringing their hands. He feels like he has to do something. Rather than having an agenda, I think he feels a tremendous burden to save the country, no matter what it takes.

Powers Boothe: (when asked by IGN about Deadwood's cancellation) Just on the business side, we had the second highest numbers [on HBO] to Sopranos, we had excellent foreign sales, excellent DVD sales...a critical hit, an artistic hit...what do you want? So I don't know what happened.

Powers Boothe: (describing accepting his Emmy during the SAG strike to Smoke magazine) It was not an official union deal, but a boycott. Well, I killed myself to do that part, and I couldn't believe it when I was nominated-and I never thought I'd win. Anyway, I always thought the Emmys were a celebration of actors, not political, so I didn't intend to offend anyone when I decided to accept.

Powers Boothe: (asked by TV Guide about his inspiration for Vice President Daniels on 24) I think I'm pretty politically informed and I find myself watching Senate hearings on C-SPAN. But I don't know if there's any particular individual. I was raised a Democrat and now I'm an Independent. I wasn't interested in playing a zealot. The sanctity of the office is what's more important to me.

Powers Boothe: (describing his career to Smoke magazine) I've been fortunate in my career to have the opportunity to pick and choose the parts I play. I've also been lucky to always be involved with quality actors, quality directors, quality writers. Hell, I've played as many guys who get the girl as I have heavies. I've done love scenes with Jessica Lange and Jennifer Lopez, and I won't kid you, they're fun.

Powers Boothe: (describing the dark side of his Deadwood character to IGN) One of the interesting things about it is people, fans or whatever, will say to me, "Oh my god, you were so brutal to kill those kids." And I say, "Yeah, but did they deserve it?" And they all go, "Yes." So in one of David's [Milch] brilliant ways of writing, in the town [of Deadwood], one takes care of their own business, right? You are the law. Your own law.

Powers Boothe: (telling TV Guide how he got his name) A friend of my father's was killed in World War II and that was his first name. When I was starting out, I'm sure a lot of people thought I was a pretentious little s--t. (laughs)

Powers Boothe: (describing his portrayal of Philip Marlowe to the New York Times)I figured the only way I could do it was to go back and approach the part as if nobody had ever done it before. I read every description that Chandler made of the character that I could get my hands on and tried to forget what the others had brought to it.

Powers Boothe: (Accepting his Emmy, 1980) This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest...I also thought long and hard whether or not I would attend, but I came here because this is America and one must do what one believes. I believe in the Academy. I also believe in my fellow actors in their stand.