Victor "Vic" Taybackwas an American actor, known for his role as diner owner Mel Sharples in the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and in its television adaptation, Alice, which ran from 1976 to 1985... (wikipedia)
I tell young actors to do anything that will sustain them.
If I walked into a restaurant, the other diners would look around and say, 'I hope you're not cooking.'
My character at 'Mel's diner' was involved in betting on the horses and all that.
Too many actors get on an ego trip and won't do commercials, so they sit around for 20 years between jobs.