Chris Pratt grew up in a humble environment. His mother, Kathy, worked in a supermarket and his father, Dan, was a contractor.
Kathy always made sure her children felt loved. However, the actor’s relationship with Dan was not easy, but now he can look back and appreciate the lessons he taught him.
At age 23, Pratt bought his mother a house, his first major purchase as a «well-paid» actor. The gift was significant, as he suffered from not having one before he became an actor and knows the hard times his family went through in the past.
Living his dream
Chris was born in Minnesota, USA, in 1979, but grew up in Washington state. He dropped out of college to work as a coupon salesman in a multi-level marketing scheme.
When he realized his future was not in sales, he moved to Maui, Hawaii, to pursue his dream of being an artist. In a post about that time in his life, Chris said:
«I had to work hard and go hungry. I had to eat sardines and figure out how to get gas money. And I never had a plan B.»
Lacking a home, he was left camping on the beach with a friend. He was far from home, far from the love and protection of his family. Survival was the main concern, but the big dream he had kept him optimistic. He believed he would make it someday.
That phase of his life was challenging, but Chris remembers it fondly. In those days, he worked as a waiter at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co, a position he performed with enthusiasm. He would engage customers, sing happy birthday to them or play trivia games.
One day, he caught the eye of actress and director Rae Dawn Chong, who cast him in his first role in «Cursed Part 3.» After that, he participated in TV shows playing Bright Abbot in «Everwood» and Ché in the popular teen drama «The OC».
He also dabbled in film with minor roles in «Moneyball» and «Jeniffer’s Body,» to name a few. Chris Pratt was on his way and was ready to make the most of every opportunity.
In his audition for the role of Andy Dwyer on «Parks and Recreation,» Chris approached the character with his trademark enthusiasm and fearlessness, and it paid off. Recalling that audition, co-creator Mike Shur said, as quoted by LADbible:
«We have to rethink this, because this guy is the funniest person we’ve ever seen. We’re not going to let him go.»
Pratt convinced the show’s creators to move the guest spot to a regular slot and cemented himself as a comedy actor and audience favorite.
Movie industry executives finally took notice of Chris. They realized he was a rising star, and Hollywood came knocking on his door.
2014 was a landmark year for Pratt. He landed two starring roles, playing Emmet Brickowski in «The Lego Movie» and Peter Quill/Star-Lord in «Guardians of the Galaxy.»
Since then, he has made his mark as a leading actor, headlining major blockbusters and showing his range from comedy to drama, suspense and science fiction.
His highest-grossing offering was «Jurassic World,» the fourth installment of the «Jurassic Park» films. Another career-defining moment was starring alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in the remake of «The Magnificent Seven».
A house for his mother
At age 23, Pratt bought a house for his mother with the proceeds from his first well-paid role. At that moment he felt he was closing a cycle that had begun in their childhood, when they lived through challenging circumstances.
«There was never any doubt in our lives about whether we were loved or not. Never. You made us feel confident. You gave us grit. You kept us centered. You cut our hair and cooked us meals,» Chris wrote to his mother, through Instagram.
The actor’s social media posts make it very clear that Kathy is an important part of his life. Her kindness and acceptance of others and her positive outlook on life are things he loves about her.
The «Parks and Recreation» actor also credits his mother for teaching him how to act. Growing up, her children could count on her to turn a mundane task into a performance.
The «Jurassic World» star, however, had a complex relationship with his father. He describes his father, who worked as a contractor, as dedicated, decisive and also «old-fashioned.»
When Chris was in his twenties, his father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Dan’s self-confidence took a hit. He could take on any challenge that came his way, but his wit and skills were no match for the degenerative condition.
Eventually, Dan gave up, which led to the breakup of his relationship with Pratt’s mother. He passed away in 2014.
Speaking of his father, Chris appreciated that, in his own way, Dan showed that he was proud of his son. His father watched everything on television, so he felt he could communicate with him through his work.
Today, Chris Pratt is the proud father of three: Jack (10) with his first wife, Anna Faris, and Lyla (2) and Eloise (8 months) with his second wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger.
