Chris Pratt
Christopher Michael Pratt (born June 21, 1979)[1] is an American actor. Pratt rose to prominence in the early 2010s for playing Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015). He also appeared in The WB drama series Everwood (2002–2006) and had supporting roles in the films Wanted (2008), Jennifer's Body (2009), Moneyball (2011), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), and Her (2013).
For other people with the same name, see Christopher Pratt (disambiguation).
Chris Pratt
Actor
2000–present
3
Kennedy family (in-laws)
Maria Shriver (mother-in-law)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (father-in-law)
Patrick Schwarzenegger (brother-in-law)
Joseph Baena (brother-in-law)
Pratt established himself by starring in two top-grossing film series. He played Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and portrayed Owen Grady in the Jurassic World trilogy (2015–2022). He also voiced the lead roles in the animated films The Lego Movie (2014), Onward (2020), and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). His films as a leading actor have grossed over $13 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. Pratt was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2015.[2]
Early life[edit]
Christopher Michael Pratt was born on June 21, 1979, in Virginia, Minnesota.[3] His mother worked at a Safeway supermarket, and his father worked in mining and later remodeling houses.[4][5][6] Pratt's father died in 2014 from multiple sclerosis.[7] His mother is of Norwegian descent.[8] When Pratt was seven years old, the family moved to Lake Stevens, Washington.[9] Pratt placed fifth in a high school state wrestling tournament.[4][10] He also was a shot putter for his high school's track team.[11] He later recalled that when his wrestling coach asked him what he wished to do with his life, he said, "'I don't know, but I know I'll be famous and I know I'll make a shit ton of money.' I had no idea how. I'd done nothing proactive."[4] He graduated from Lake Stevens High School in 1997.[12]
Pratt dropped out of community college halfway through the first semester and, after working as a discount ticket salesman and daytime stripper, he ended up homeless in Maui, Hawaii, sleeping in a van and a tent on the beach. He told The Independent, "It's a pretty awesome place to be homeless. We just drank and smoked weed and worked minimal hours, just enough to cover gas, food, and fishing supplies."[4][13] He recalled listening to the Dr. Dre album 2001 daily, to the point where he knew every lyric; years later, he rapped Eminem's verses from the song "Forgot About Dre" extemporaneously during an interview.[14] During his time in Maui, he worked for Christian missionary organization Jews for Jesus.[15]
Career[edit]
2000–2013: Early work and breakthrough[edit]
When Pratt was age 19, he waited tables at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in Maui when he was discovered by actress and director Rae Dawn Chong. She cast him in her directorial debut, the short horror film Cursed Part 3, which was filmed in Los Angeles.[3][4][16] Pratt's first regular television role was as Harold Brighton "Bright" Abbott on the series Everwood.[4][17] After Everwood's cancellation, he joined the cast of The O.C. for its fourth season, playing activist Winchester "Ché" Cook.[4] He also had an appearance in the 2008 action film Wanted, where James McAvoy hits him with a keyboard.[18]
Public image[edit]
In March 2014, Pratt was awarded the CinemaCon Award for Breakthrough Performer.[58][59] In 2014, he was ranked at number two on People magazine's annual list of Sexiest Men Alive.[60] Pratt was the featured cover story of the July 18 issue of Entertainment Weekly, which documented the evolution of his physique over the course of the previous twelve years, going from 220 pounds (100 kg) for his role on Everwood to 295 pounds (134 kg) for Delivery Man, to 225–230 pounds (102–104 kg) for his roles in Zero Dark Thirty and Guardians of the Galaxy.[4] Pratt poked fun at his fluctuating physique in a musical number he performed during his monolog when he hosted the September 27, 2014, episode of Saturday Night Live.[61] On April 21, 2017, Pratt received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the motion picture industry, located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard.[62][63]
Philanthropy[edit]
In 2015, Pratt and Anna Faris donated $1 million to a charity which provided eyeglasses to underprivileged children. The donation was allegedly inspired by Pratt's son who was born premature and visually impaired. They also donated to neonatal intensive care unit of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and also supported March of Dimes which works to end premature births, birth defects and infant mortality.[92]
In December 2016, Pratt donated $500,000 to a teen center in his hometown of Lake Stevens. The teen center was named in memory of his father.[93]
In February 2021, Pratt donated $20,000 to fight hunger in South Carolina. The donation was part of a fundraiser by Pratt and an organization to raise $650,000 to fight food insecurity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Pratt also helped create the charity Feed Thy Neighbor to which he donated $100,000.[94] Also in February 2021, he donated $10,000 to the Edmonds Food Bank as part of his organization and also donated to the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce and Edmonds Waterfront Center in Washington state.[95]