Boy Who Struggled with Too-Small Shoes Went on to Become Hollywood’s Biggest Star!
From humble beginnings, this actor started with wearing shoes three sizes too small and living in a cramped trailer with his family. His story shows how he went from small roles and waiting tables to starring in major movie franchises. Let’s take a closer look at his journey.
Born into a working-class family, he spent his early years learning how hard life could be. His parents, Kathleen Louise and Daniel Clifton, worked hard but struggled financially. His mom worked as a grocery store checker, and his dad was a construction worker—a tough man who valued hard work. Despite their efforts, money was always tight.
The family later moved to Lake Stevens, Washington, where the actor grew up with his older siblings, Cully and Angie. Life was difficult for them, and they often lacked basic necessities, such as shoes that fit. He often wore shoes that were too small, with his toes sticking out the front. “We always had the lamest shoes. And shoes were so important as a kid!” he remembered.
A rare happy moment came when he won $85 in a bingo game with his mom. With it, he bought a pair of Reebok Pumps. “I wore those shoes for three years,” he said, adding that they got so small that he had to cut them to make more space. Even though they were falling apart, he loved them.
However, the small wins didn’t make up for the bigger challenges. The family lost their home when he was in high school and had to move into a rental. Later, when his parents offered him a loft in a shed outside their trailer, he chose to live with a friend instead.
His father’s health also declined due to multiple sclerosis, which made him more withdrawn and angry. “He had lost interest in life,” the actor recalled. “He refused to take any medication or do any physical therapy.” His father’s illness made his tough personality even more difficult to deal with.
As he grew older, the actor took on odd jobs to help his family. He waited tables, briefly attended a community college, and tried selling coupons door-to-door. “I was great at that,” he said. Despite these efforts, he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. He briefly thought about joining the military, but his brother, who had joined the Army, advised him against it. “I think he saw something in me,” the actor shared. “I was a peculiar kid. I dressed funny and was comfortable in my own skin.”
Despite his tough upbringing, his father’s stern parenting shaped the actor’s sense of humor. “Early on, I developed humor as a self-defense mechanism,” he explained, referring to the character Andy that he would later play.
At one point, a friend sent him a plane ticket to Maui, where he lived out of a van on the beach. For a long time, he moved from one job to the next, unsure of his future. During this time, he found religion, though he had no idea where it would lead him.
From Waiting Tables to Leading Hollywood Films Chris Pratt’s career took off while he was living in Maui, working as a waiter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and sleeping in a van. He got a lead role in a low-budget horror film, “Cursed: Part III,” which didn’t make him famous, but he earned $700 from it. “That $700 lasted me one year,” he said.
Determined to succeed in Hollywood, Pratt moved to Los Angeles. He lived cheaply, waited tables, and took on small roles in big movies or starring roles in smaller films. “I was an outsider, no connections, no nepotism, nothing. A complete foreigner to Hollywood,” he said.
His breakthrough came when he landed a role in the TV drama “Everwood,” where he played Bright Abbott. This show ran for four seasons, and Pratt credits it as his first life-changing role.
“That’s when I became an actor, and that was the first time I’d ever got into money, real money,” he shared. His natural charisma led to more TV roles, including a stint on “The O.C.,” but it wasn’t until 2009, when he joined “Parks and Recreation” as Andy Dwyer, that he became widely recognized.
Pratt was initially hired for a temporary role, but his character became a fan favorite. “Andy on ‘Parks and Rec’ was my clown that I had honed my entire life,” he said. His portrayal of the goofy but lovable Andy resonated with audiences, and he became a regular on the show.
During this time, he met actress Anna Faris while filming “Take Me Home Tonight.” They fell in love, married, and had a son, Jack. It seemed like everything in Pratt’s life was falling into place.
His transition from TV to film was a major turning point. In 2014, he starred as Peter Quill (Star-Lord) in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The movie was a huge hit, turning him into a major movie star. That same year, he voiced Emmet in the animated film “The Lego Movie,” another success that cemented his place in Hollywood.
In 2015, he starred in “Jurassic World,” the revival of the “Jurassic Park” franchise. The film became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, solidifying Pratt’s role as a leading man. His success continued with films like “The Magnificent Seven” and “Passengers,” where he starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence.
Despite his stardom, Pratt remained grounded. In 2019, he returned to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., where he had once worked as a waiter, and shared a post on Instagram reflecting on his journey.
“Twenty years ago I was a waiter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company,” he wrote. “Please tip your server. Leave at least 20%. Also leave some shrimp.”
Looking back, Pratt said his goals had changed over time. “Originally, the dream was to pay my bills by doing nothing other than acting,” he said. “Then it was to do roles that are more than just the bad guy. Now I can actually say no to stuff.”
In his personal life, Pratt married Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and they had a second child, Eloise, in 2020. He also shared that his father-in-law is a thoughtful gift-giver, even making quilts with baby pictures on them.
Despite his success, Pratt continues to reflect on his father’s influence. He sees his dad’s mannerisms in himself and treasures a compass his father gave him as a symbol of guidance.
Today, Chris Pratt is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, known for leading major film franchises. His journey from a small-town boy with too-small shoes to an A-list actor is a story of perseverance, faith, and never giving up.
