The 71-year-old actor opened up about dodging an early Hollywood disaster. He credits his slow climb for keeping him alive and grounded.
JK Simmons told The Telegraph he is convinced an early rise would have ended badly. "If I had become a well-known actor when I was 24 years old... I could have ended up like James Dean," he said.
The Oscar-nominated star landed his Spider-Man roles in the 2000s and Whiplash acclaim in his late 50s. He joked that his look and voice typecast him as bosses, dads and bad-guy leaders.
One career low point turned into his biggest win. After quitting an understudy gig, Simmons met his wife Michelle Schumacher on a Peter Pan tour and married her in 1996. They have two kids.
"A pivotal moment, this devastating, horrible thing happened that led to the best thing in my life," he added.