- Because I could dance my folks went through hell so I could be in movies. But I didn't dance in pictures. I cried! At one point I had polio, which I believe was a result of the stress I felt in the studios. My parents broke up. My father resented that I was paid so much more than he was. When it was all over there was no money.
- On adjusting to public school: "My life was hell. My mother made me wear short pants - white short pants. Every boy in that school wanted to punch out the 'movie star,' 'cry-baby,' 'sissy,' and most of them tried. Fortunately, I had been scheduled to do a picture with Max Baer that was cancelled when he lost the championship. But we'd gotten friendly and he taught me how to box - really box. I whipped more asses at that school."
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