Otto Quotes

On signing, at age 18, a long-term contract with Otto Preminger: It was an archaic system. You were, basically, under the control of one man and his whims. He wasn`t easy and it wasn`t an easy time. He wasn`t a nurturing director and I thought, `Maybe I don`t want to be a film actor, after all.`

(on working with director Otto Preminger on Such Good Friends (1971)) I was warned about him -- but could anybody really be that bad? Yeah, they could. Elaine May wrote a great screenplay. He took a piece of beauty and screwed it up. It was an incredible part and he destroyed it. I have been the victim of some killers in my time. He`s one of the biggest. He`s a horrible man. Phew! But who ever hears of him anymore? Is he still alive?

(on Otto Preminger) O.P. is only happy if everybody else is miserable. Still, if you can keep his paranoia from beating you down, you can learn a lot from the guy.

(on director Frank Perry) I`ve been in so many bad movies and worked with so many bad directors that I go into a film expecting nothing. That`s why I respect and admire Frank Perry so much. He`s a rare man and I`ve worked with enough stiffs to know the difference pal, but he knows the problems of actors and I know the problems of a director. Frank is as far away from Otto Preminger as you can get.

I once asked Otto Preminger if it was possible for someone to be a character actor and a star. He said `No.` I`d like to prove him wrong.

Otto was successful at multiple careers and always kept his mind active. He was a great athlete, yet he`d always wear a cravat or necktie; he dressed to the nines. But he was always gracious.

When the pressure to win as taken away from the enjoyment of coaching, I knew it was time for a change. I didn`t want to make a rash decision following what was a long season. Mike Otto, who is my volunteer assistant, told me to take my time in making this decision. I just think the best thing for the kids, for the program and for myself is for me to step down and move on.

Alcoholism is a disease, but it`s the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupis... one of those two doesn`t sound right.