Al Lewis Quotes, born Alexander Meister on April 30, 1923, in New York City, and passing on February 3, 2006, in Roosevelt Island, New York, was an American actor, comedian, and activist, best known for his role as Grandpa Munster in the CBS sitcom The Munsters (1964–1966). With a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University, Lewis initially taught school and wrote children’s books before turning to acting in 1949, joining the Paul Mann Actor’s Workshop. His career spanned vaudeville, burlesque, radio, and film, including roles in The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Muppet Movie (1979). A lifelong activist, he organized with the Food, Agricultural and Tobacco Workers Union, supported housing rights, and ran for New York governor in 1998 under the Green Party. These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, public statements, and posts on X—reflect his wisdom on struggle, activism, performance, and individuality, capturing his irreverent humor and fierce commitment to justice.
15 Al Lewis Quotes
- “The struggle goes on. The victory is in the struggle, for me. And I accepted that a long time ago.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “As long as you gave it your best shot, even if in the opinion of others ‘you failed,’ you didn’t fail.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “But find something that you absolutely love doing. And then get to love the way you do it. That’s the uniqueness of all of us. That’s it.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I know who I am. I don’t have to brag. I know what I contributed. I know what I did. You think you can do it better? Hey, go right ahead. The stage is yours.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “There’s more to anybody. Just because you haven’t noticed it, that’s your problem, that’s not mine.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “What motivated me? My mother. My mother was an immigrant woman, a peasant woman, struggled all her life, worked in the garment center.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Every Friday I used to have about fifty, sixty kids who would wait for me on Sunset Boulevard and I’d take them all to dinner. All runaways.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “I think people need housing. And there’s empty buildings, I think people should live in there. If you want to call them squatters, trespassers, hey, I call Wall Street thieves!” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “I prefer that for my own satisfaction over radio, there’s no audience. TV, there’s no audience. I need the response of the audience, even if it’s a silent response.” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “America gets the politicians they deserve. That’s it. And you keep struggling.” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “I went to all the Love-Ins. I took my kids. I enjoyed myself.” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “[On his role as Grandpa Munster] What makes Grandpa a little odd is the fact that he had no prototype. When I approached this role, I knew that whatever I was doing was original.” (IMDb, n.d.)
- “[Asked about being typecast as Grandpa Munster] Why would I mind? It pays my mortgage.” (IMDb, n.d.)
- “The ruling class is smarter than you, and they’re more creative. And if you forget that lesson, you go down the drain.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “I’m more important to me than any body you can mention. Do you know that?” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
Al Lewis’s quotes are a fiery blend of activism, humor, and unapologetic individuality, inspiring us to fight for justice, embrace our uniqueness, and find victory in the struggle. Which one’s got you ready to take the stage of your own life? Drop it in the comments and keep Lewis’s rebellious legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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