Robert Patrick on Becoming an Actor: "The guys who make it to the major leagues are not there because they are lucky"

I can’t help it — even though it was over twenty years ago now since the release of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, whenever I see Robert Patrick on screen I end up thinking of him as the T-1000. Though I don’t think he minds that one bit, Patrick has had a lot of great roles since then, and he is his usual stoic self as the General Manager for the Atlanta Braves in Trouble with the Curve, which stars Clint Eastwood.

Patrick spoke about his role in the film and his general thoughts on making it as an actor with The Big Mac Blog.

Patrick notes that while it’s a bit unnerving to be acting against a legend like Eastwood, as a professional one has to put that aside. He explains, “It’s intimidating and he is a hero and once you get passed that you realize it’s your time to shine and you have to do the job… When they hire you to be in a film they are directing it’s an endorsement and a pat on the back to get the job done. But right before the camera rolls it’s like, ‘Wow everything I ever wanted is right here.’ I worked with Harrison Ford I had the same feeling about that. Guys like Clint and Harrison they are really good at putting you at ease, Clint especially. He’s such a great guy. He has such a great sense of humor. It was a really comfortable experience. I feel like I delivered.”

When asked if he’s ever had a moment where he felt like he “made it” as an actor, Patrick admits he thinks it quite often. He says, “That is the thing you have to remind yourself every day. I have made a living as an actor since 1990. When I did T2 I knew that I had a hard time getting a job after that movie I knew it would be easier to get into somebody’s office. I felt confident that I will have a career as an actor now.”

As for any advice he has for young actors, Patrick first says that college students shouldn’t just drop everything and run off to Hollywood. He says, “Don’t do it. If you are going to ask someone how, or should I, you are not there. You have to walk in saying, ‘I’m going to do this – this is the project for my life, and it doesn’t matter what everybody else thinks.’ The guys who make it to the major leagues are not there because they are lucky. They are there because they are talented. They believe in themselves because they do it. As the years went by and you start to see the work starts to accumulate. You are auditioning and you get those roles you are fighting for. You realize it’s going to work out.”