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What were life experiences that contributed to the success of an actor?

John Wayne, famous for his roles of a no nonsense cowboy, had opportunity to meet with the legendary lawman, Wyatt Earp, and learn about his life firsthand.
Ronald Reagan and others.
But to the point. the Joker actors all died.
Mostly just pretending to be someone they're not. Receiving attention for it. Getting a gold star for the day. Then they're thinking they're somebody else, someone important. They grow up and get paid millions to pretend. Then they need to be important in the real world so they start a fund for the underrepresented tree frogs of Botswana and film a documentary depicting how dangerous the work of protecting the frogs from ruthless bounty hunters really has become. Talk shows, tabloids, and podcasts with the influencer du jour.

Maybe i missed the intent of the OP.
@HerkyHawkeye said in #3:
> Mostly just pretending to be someone they're not. Receiving attention for it. Getting a gold star for the day. Then they're thinking they're somebody else, someone important. They grow up and get paid millions to pretend. Then they need to be important in the real world so they start a fund for the underrepresented tree frogs of Botswana and film a documentary depicting how dangerous the work of protecting the frogs from ruthless bounty hunters really has become. Talk shows, tabloids, and podcasts with the influencer du jour.
>
> Maybe i missed the intent of the OP.

Yes, I think you did.

For one thing many actors were influenced by their military career. I'll add some specifics a bit later.
Okay, setting aside my thoughts on current pretenders, errrr, actors, i'll go old school as well. There are many examples, look at Jack Palance for one. Pretty much learned to be the tough guy in real life that he always played on the screen. Boxer, brawler, WWII veteran, stunt man, college football, even singer.
Name me 1 Joker actor that still lives. In the Batman movies ever and all.

A guy from art school that studied directing told me that it is a doomed acting take.
I looked at wikipedia of James Garner, two purple hearts and a long list of more medals.
Audie Murphy
It was cool to see his westerns and realize you were looking at a bonafided hero.
@RushOptSix said in #6:
> Name me 1 Joker actor that still lives. In the Batman movies ever and all.
>
> A guy from art school that studied directing told me that it is a doomed acting take.

Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Jared Leto.