Terry Gross

You quit smoking to sing Sondheim.

So we talked a little bit about working with Sondheim on one of his musicals.

Earlier in your life, your music was being a singing waiter in a Manhattan restaurant.

How did that work, and what was your restaurant repertoire?

I'm thinking, speaking of Sondheim, that you have to sing upbeat, ingratiating songs, and you can't sing a song from Sweeney Todd like, "'They All Deserve to Die.'"

Were tips based on your singing?

If you're just joining us, my guest is Richard Kind.

We'll talk more after a break.

I'm Terry Gross, and this is Fresh Air.

You had a teacher, an acting teacher, who said to you, you're not going to get the roles until you're in your 30s.

Yeah, so how discouraging was that when your own acting teacher said to you, you're not going to get the roles until you're 30s?

Did you see that as discouraging, like he's telling me I'm not going to get roles?

Terry, you heard me.

Wait, wait, wait.

Okay, go ahead.

Or did you see it as encouraging with him saying, like, it's going to take some time, but you will get roles when you're in your 30s.

You will do well.

No, I had to.

I got lucky.

I really did.