Chris Pratt has revealed how a chance encounter at the restaurant where he worked changed his life forever, taking him from living in a van in Hawaii with barely any money to becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars. The 47-year-old actor recalled waiting tables at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and having just $60 (£45) to his name when filmmaker Rae Dawn Chong offered him his first acting opportunity.
Looking back at his unlikely introduction to the entertainment industry, Pratt shared a throwback photograph from his first film, Cursed Part 3, on Instagram. He explained that Chong happened to walk into the restaurant one day, setting in motion a series of events that would eventually launch his acting career.
Chris Pratt's Chance Encounter With a Hollywood Director
'Before Hollywood, I was living in a van in Hawaii and waiting tables at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company,' Pratt wrote alongside the photograph. He recalled recognising Chong when she arrived at the restaurant and deciding to approach her table.
'Naturally, I went up to her table and said, "Hey, you're a movie star! What are you doing here?"' the actor recalled. Rather than simply acknowledging his enthusiasm, Chong asked whether he could act, giving the aspiring performer an unexpected opportunity to sell himself.
Pratt did not hesitate when asked about his acting abilities, responding enthusiastically: 'F*** yeah, put me in your movie!' Chong subsequently asked for his telephone number, but the aspiring actor had another problem to overcome: he did not actually own a phone.
Instead, Pratt gave the filmmaker his friend Mike's number, hoping she would get in touch. Once he managed to connect with Chong, Pratt was invited to collect the screenplay for the film, an opportunity he was determined not to waste.
Chris Pratt Had Just $60 When He Landed His First Film Role
The script ran to 120 pages, and Pratt revealed that he read the entire thing three times in a row. It was the first script he had ever read, but he was already imagining himself playing Devon, the character he had been offered.
'My character's name was Devon, and I remember thinking, "Sweet! I could totally play a Devon!"' he recalled. Pratt was so determined to impress that he arrived at the audition with every line and inflection mapped out in pencil.
His preparation paid off when Chong offered him the role and informed him that filming would take place in Los Angeles. However, travelling to California presented a significant challenge for someone who had very little money and few belongings.
'I had about $60 to my name, a bag of clothes, and some rollerblades,' Pratt revealed. Fortunately, Chong told him that the production would fly him out, removing one of the biggest obstacles standing between him and his first acting job.
'I remember thinking right then and there, my life just changed forever. I'm going to be an actor,' he wrote. Pratt described Cursed Part 3, the low-budget horror comedy directed by Chong, as the production that 'opened the door to Hollywood' for him.
📽️: Cursed Part 3 (2000)
— Chris Pratt News (@cprattnews) September 30, 2018
⭐️: as Devon pic.twitter.com/WmC7j2SHuL
Becoming One of Hollywood's Biggest Stars
Although his first film role gave him an entry point into the entertainment industry, Pratt's rise to fame did not happen overnight. He went on to secure further acting opportunities, eventually building a television career before landing the role that would introduce him to a much wider audience.
In 2009, he joined the cast of Parks and Recreation, playing the lovable Andy Dwyer alongside Amy Poehler. Pratt subsequently became an international star as Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. He also headlined the Jurassic World films as Owen Grady.
Chris Pratt makes his debut as Star-Lord (Peter Quill) in Guardians of the Galaxy. pic.twitter.com/FJdXhoFdVx
— Blaze Binges (@BlazeBinges) October 31, 2026
Despite the enormous difference between his life today and his early days working at a shrimp restaurant, Pratt has not forgotten the filmmaker who gave him his first opportunity. 'I'll forever be grateful to Rae for taking a chance on a kid working at a shrimp restaurant,' he wrote.
