Ke Huy Quan’s Ultimate Comeback Ends In Tearful, Triumphant Oscar Win For Best Supporting Actor
The Oscars get mixed reactions from people every year. Some find it cringeworthy, outdated, and still too white, and many others host big parties to watch with friends and celebrate the movies they watch throughout the year. But, say what you will about the Oscars, there are heartfelt and wholesome moments mixed in among the show that gets everyone talking.
One of those moments happened early in the show this year when the “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” was called for Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Eyes brimming with tears, Ke Huy Quan went on stage to a standing ovation, and then in his speech, he looked into the camera and said, “Look, Mom, I won an Oscar!”
RELATED:
The celebration didn’t end there. Later, when Everything Everywhere All at Once took the Oscar for Best Picture, he and the rest of the cast and crew went on stage. The award was announced by Harrison Ford, and when Ke Huy Quan came on stage, he and Ford embraced to the adoration of everyone watching.
Why all the acclaim and love? It’s all due to his incredible comeback. Born in Vietnam, he and his family were refugees in the United States. He landed the role of Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which set off his acting career. By the 1990s, however, as he’d aged, he was finding less and less work. In time, facing the rejection of Hollywood, he gave up on acting altogether. Until he saw Michelle Yeoh in Crazy Rich Asians. Her performance in the movie inspired him to return to acting, and after calling a friend to represent him, the role of Waymond came up. When he found out Michelle Yeoh was starring in it, it was like the stars aligned.
Fast forward to Sunday night, and Ke Huy Quan found himself on stage, after so long, sharing a hug with his old co-star.
READ NEXT: