"Actually, I wanted to be an actor when I was two years old"
About this Quote
The word “Actually” matters. It’s a conversational pivot, the kind that usually corrects a misconception. You can hear the implied question behind it: “When did you decide?” or “Did you always know?” David positions himself against the cliché of the actor who stumbled into it. That tiny adverb signals self-possession, even a gentle impatience with narratives that make artistry seem like a happy accident.
There’s also a subtle flex in how early the desire arrives. Two years old is pre-memory for most people; claiming it is less autobiography than mythology, a way of communicating that performance wasn’t an accessory but a native language. Coming from Keith David, whose career spans authoritative voice work and imposing on-screen presence, the line reads like brand truth: the voice was always going to find a stage.
Culturally, it plays into the modern demand that artists be “authentic” and self-aware. David’s story satisfies that appetite while staying charmingly unpretentious: not “I was destined,” just “I wanted.” The subtext is discipline disguised as innocence.
Quote Details
| Topic | Career |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
David, Keith. (2026, January 15). Actually, I wanted to be an actor when I was two years old. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/actually-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-two-126129/
Chicago Style
David, Keith. "Actually, I wanted to be an actor when I was two years old." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/actually-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-two-126129/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Actually, I wanted to be an actor when I was two years old." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/actually-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-two-126129/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.




