By Megan Riedlinger
8:22am PDT, Jun 18, 2018
It's no surprise that Chris Pratt's "Parks and Recreation" character, Andy Dwyer — who was only meant to be in a few episodes — became a series regular because audiences loved him so much. We can't get enough of Chris now either! With his new movie, "Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom," in theaters on June 22, 2018, we're taking a look at all the reasons we adore this down-to-earth, adorable and talented actor. Keep reading to check them out!
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1. He got discovered by being an awesome waiter
Tommy Chong's daughter Rae Dawn Chong was eating at a Bubba Gump restaurant in Hawaii when a young Chris Pratt was her server. Rae, an actress and director, thought Chris was so funny and charismatic that she offered him a role in her film "Curse Part Three." While that movie earned horrible reviews, Chris moved to Hollywood and continued to audition until he landed a role on The WB's "Everwood."
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2. His physical transformation is inspirational
Chris Pratt's physical transformation from his "Parks and Recreation" days to his "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" roles is inspirational. For "Parks and Rec," Chris had to pack on the pounds. "It became a bit of a game: How fat can I get and how fast," he told Men's Health U.K. But when he had to lose weight for his role in "Zero Dark Thirty," he realized how unhealthy he'd been living. "I had real health issues that were affecting me in a major way. It's bad for your heart, your skin, your system, your spirit," Chris explained to the magazine. After that realization, he cleaned up his diet and has been a healthy weight ever since.
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3. He loves kids, especially his own son, Jack
Chris Pratt made a surprise appearance at an advanced screening of "Guardians of the Galaxy" for underprivileged kids so he could take pictures with and say a few words to the children. "If you stick to your path and you believe in yourself and you be courageous enough to be yourself, you can grow up and be your own Star Lord," shared Chris, whose family struggled financially when he was a child. At home, Chris is a doting dad to Jack, his son with ex-wife Anna Faris. While getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2017 — just months before he and the actress split — Chris said, "It was awesome to have Jack here. Without him or Anna, this doesn't really mean much, so I feel very blessed that he was able to come here. It'll be a cool memory for all of us." Aw!
4. He's brutally honest about his divorce from Anna Faris
After eight years of marriage, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris split in August 2017. Instead of acting like everything was great, Chris got candid with Entertainment Weekly in April 2018, saying, "Divorce sucks. But at the end of the day, we've got a great kid who's got two parents who love him very much." Despite their breakup being rough, the couple are keeping things civil for their son. "We're finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another. It's not ideal, but yeah, I think both of us are actually probably doing better," he told the outlet.
5. He's a huge "Game of Thrones" fan
Just like the rest of us, Chris Pratt is really into "Game of Thrones." In a Reddit AMA, Chris said he was a "huge" fan and that his favorite character is Arya Stark.
6. He gets along with everyone
Friends from high school remember Chris Pratt as being Mr. Popular and blending in with every social group. He was an athlete, but a former classmate who wrote a piece for the local paper on Chris explained, "He was just as popular with the jocks as he was with the preps, stoners and drama kids."
7. He had an unusual hobby
When Chris Pratt met now-ex Anna Faris on the set of "Take Me Home Tonight," they bonded over something a little unusual. Chris mentioned he had a dead bug collection, which Anna then had to see. It turned out she collected dead bugs too. Talk about a bizarre hobby!
8. He's an Oscar magnet
Chris Pratt has had roles in many Oscar-nominated flicks and even appeared in best picture-nominated films for three years in a row — "Moneyball" in 2011, "Zero Dark Thirty" in 2012 (pictured) and "Her" in 2013.
9. He can play guitar
He's a musician too! That guitar wasn't just a prop on "Parks and Recreation" — Chris Pratt really plays. Andy Dwyer sang and strummed as Johnny Karate on the show, and in real life, Chris has his own collection of acoustic guitars! We love a guy who can serenade us…
10. He can also rap!
Chris Pratt has been known to bust into song — and we must say, the man's got skills. In a 2014 interview on the radio show "Whoolywood Shuffle," the funnyman confessed his love for Dr. Dre and Eminem's music. "Me and my friend lived in a van in Maui and we listened to that and smoked weed every day," Chris said. "I know every word to that album ["2001″]." He then busted into a full rendition of their hit song "Forgot About Dre" and he nailed it! You can check it out here.
11. He avoids being typecast
Chris Pratt doesn't shy away from any type of acting role. From his hilarious character Andy Dwyer on "Parks and Recreation" to more serious fare like "Moneyball" (pictured) and "Zero Dark Thirty" to action-adventure roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and "Jurassic Park" franchise, Chris has avoided being typecast in Hollywood and has proven he can take on anything.
12. Chris Pratt is a romantic
Though he's single now, while promoting "Passengers" — the 2016 flick co-starring Jennifer Lawrence — a reporter asked J.Law what people would be the most surprised to learn about Chris. Her answer? "Well, he can solve a Rubik's Cube. I don't know if people know that. I don't know if people know that he's the best father. And that he sends his [then-]wife [Anna Faris] a bouquet of flowers every week." This is good news for any future ladies in his life!
