Tom Amandes

Tom: Parenting is a pretty complex thing, and in most of the roles I've played, it's greatly simplified. Of all the skills I've tried to learn over my life, parenting has probably been the most -- difficult, and it really is an ongoing thing.

Tom (on being away from LA) You're further away from the buzz, which gets to be -- like static after a while.

Tom: (on "Everwood"'s treatment of difficult family situations) What I've learned is that that's just a hallmark of the quality of the writing on this show. They will take the time to let something like that develop and they're not afraid to just go right at it.

Tom: You build up a foundation based on experience, and some of the bad plays that I did -- I've often said it was the bad jobs I learned the most from.

Tom: The first time I ever tested for anything in L.A., I was introduced as a theater actor from Chicago, and that was a real good calling card to have.

Tom: (naming all of his siblings) It was an everyday thing - PeggyMaryLaurieJohnPaulTomEileenJerryLouiseVincentGrace - and in chronological order. Don't ask me to do it backwards.

Tom: Actors are sort of regarded as - - slow children, just in terms of being shown anything, or getting the scripts ahead of time.

Tom: When I was a little kid, we never had a TV. We didn't get a TV until I was like in first grade. So, most of those shows, Andy Griffith and stuff like that, I caught in reruns.