John Corbett says he regrets choosing his acting career after being in the industry for more than 30 years.
The actor made a guest appearance on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast hosted by comedians Dana Carvey and David Spade, where he admitted to the hosts that being an actor is not fulfilling for him.
“I’m now in the fourth quarter of the football game, in life and in show business. That’s a fact,” Corbett said. “So now I can reveal that I chose the wrong thing to do with my life.”
The 63-year-old actor said his regret stemmed from a long-standing dislike of authority figures and the lack of creative control inherent in acting.
“Ever since I was a kid, I hate being told what to do by any authority figure,” Corbett said. “I’ve picked one thing to do my whole life to satisfy my work life, which is, ‘Dude, stand here, say this, wear this, look here, say it faster, cut your hair like this.’ … You feel like a puppet.”
The “Sex and the City” star expressed her desire to be more involved in the creative process when it comes to her own projects. She referenced fellow actress Emma Stone and her creative involvement in her film projects “Cruella” and “Poor Things.”
“I made a lot of money. I live in a beautiful house. People come to see me at every restaurant I go to. I’m a friend to the world. But as far as a fulfilling creative work life goes, I didn’t write a single line. I didn’t write a single joke to make people laugh. So I haven’t felt gratified in that sense.”
Corbett’s path to acting began unexpectedly while he was studying hairdressing at Cerritos College. In 1988, he made his television debut with a guest role on “The Wonder Years” before going on to achieve widespread recognition as Chris Stevens on “Northern Exposure,” a role that earned him Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. His career continued to soar with notable roles on “Sex and the City,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “United States of Tara.”
Corbett, who married his longtime partner Bo Derek in 2020, has explored other creative pursuits, including a foray into country music with two albums, “John Corbett,” released in 2006, and “Leaving Nothin' Behind” in 2013.
