James Woods

format_quote Achieving success as an actor has not been easy for me. My biggest, probably most irrational complaint has been that I've had to work harder for what I've gotten. I've seen other people with nepotism or wealth or cheesy good looks on their side who've had it easy, whereas I felt that I had to 'overprove' myself. No one ever went out of their way and said, 'Let's make Jimmy Woods a star.' With many frustrations and disappointments early in my career, I went into a deep depression. One time, I just sat in a chair for eighteen days. I worked my way out of that depressed state, but it took three years of therapy.

stars  The high school in the animated show "Family Guy" (1999) was named after him (James Woods High School). James grew up in Rhode Island, where the show takes place, and has guest starred on the show as himself (an episode where he supports renaming the school Martin Luther King Jr. High School). ("Peter's Got Woods," episode 5.1, 11 September 2005)

stars  Provided the voice of Carl, the straight-laced rabbit in the pet store across the street from a rental station, in a series of Blockbuster commercials.

stars  Is good friends with Sharon Stone and told Cigar Aficionado in an interview that he considers her one of the smartest women in the movie business.

stars  Hades from the Disney franchise is his favorite role and he states that he'll continue playing the character, whenever needed, until the day he dies because he loves the character so very much.

stars  Got his third TV role, as a thug on "Kojak" (1973), after Richard Dreyfuss and Martin Sheen had turned it down.