This Boy Wore Shoes Too Small Due to Poverty and Lived in a Trailer — Today, He’s a Hollywood Star
Starting from humble beginnings, where he wore shoes three sizes too small and lived in a cramped trailer with his struggling family, this actor went from small roles and waiting tables to leading some of the biggest film franchises. Take a closer look at his story.
Born into a working-class family in a small town, this future star spent his early years learning the harsh realities of life. His parents, Kathleen Louise and Daniel Clifton, worked hard to keep their heads above water, but money was always tight.
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His mother held a job as a grocery store checker, and his father was a construction worker—a tough man who knew the value of hard work. Despite their efforts, financial security always seemed out of reach.
The family eventually settled in Lake Stevens, Washington, where he grew up alongside his older siblings, Cully and Angie. Life wasn’t easy for the family, who struggled to provide the basics, including clothes and shoes that fit.
It wasn’t unusual for the boy to wear shoes that were far too small, with his toes sticking out the front. “We always had the lamest shoes. And shoes were so important as a kid!” he recalled.
Winning $85 during a bingo game with his mom was one of the rare moments when he could indulge in something he wanted. “[…] I bought a pair of Reebok Pumps,” he shared.
“Dude, I wore those shoes for three years. They got so small for me that I had to take a razor and cut the pump out to buy myself some more space,” he added.
Even then, he couldn’t bring himself to throw them away. “You could still see the basketball on the tongue, but there was no pump system in there. I loved those pumps,” the actor revealed.
These small triumphs, however, were overshadowed by significant losses. His family lost their home while he was in high school, forcing them to move into a rental. When his parents later offered him a loft in a shed outside their trailer, he declined and chose to live with a friend instead.
His father’s declining health added to the family’s hardships. A hard man by nature, his dad became even more withdrawn and bitter after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “He had lost interest in life,” the actor recalled.
“He refused to take any medication or do anything like physical therapy,” he shared. The illness took a toll on his father’s already tough demeanor. “He was pretty ornery to begin with, and that just made him more ornery.”
As the young man grew older, he began to take odd jobs to help make ends meet. He waited tables, attended a local community college for a short time, and even tried his hand at sales, going door-to-door selling coupons. “I was great at that,” he said.
Despite these efforts, his life lacked direction. He briefly considered joining the military, but his brother, who had enlisted in the Army, advised 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.”
Though he had an unshakable spirit, his family’s struggles left emotional scars. His father’s stoic and old-school approach to parenting, often through what he called “emotional scarification,” shaped his sense of humor.
“Early on, I developed humor as a self-defense mechanism — I developed Andy, really,” he explained, referencing the beloved character that would later make him a household name.
Yet, his father’s influence remained strong, even as his health deteriorated. The boy admired his dad’s toughness, though it came at a cost. “My brother and I talk about it,” he said. “Part of us appreciate that he made us tough […].”
Eventually, a friend sent him a plane ticket to Maui, where he began living out of a van on the beach. He spent much of his early twenties in limbo, moving from one odd job to the next, unsure of what path to take.
It was during this period of aimlessness that he found religion. But at the time, no one could have predicted his future success.
Despite the challenges, this young man never lost his sense of individuality or humor—qualities that would later set him apart in an industry known for rejection and unpredictability. He didn’t yet know it, but life was leading him toward a career that would change everything.
From Living in a Van to Leading Hollywood Blockbusters
The pivotal moment that set Chris Pratt’s career in motion came when he was living in Maui, working as a waiter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and sleeping in a van on the beach.
He landed the lead role in a low-budget horror, “Cursed: Part III.” While the film didn’t put him on the map, it did pay him $700.
“That $700 lasted me one year,” he revealed. Determined to make it in Hollywood, Pratt moved to Los Angeles and hustled for every role he could find.
He lived cheaply, waited tables, and took small roles in big movies or leading roles in tiny productions. “I was an outsider, no connections, no nepotism, nothing. A complete foreigner to Hollywood,” he said.
His big break came with the TV drama “Everwood,” where he played Bright Abbott. The 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 landed him more TV roles, including a stint as Ché on “The O.C.,” but it wasn’t until he joined the cast of “Parks and Recreation” in 2009 that Pratt became a household name.
Initially cast for a temporary role as the goofy Andy Dwyer, Pratt’s character quickly became a fan favorite. His portrayal of the lovable slacker resonated with audiences, and the writers kept him on as a series regular.
“Andy on ‘Parks and Rec’ was my clown that I had honed my entire life,” Pratt said. “A guy who’s affable, who’s an intelligent person playing a dumb person.”
Around this time, he met actress Anna Faris while filming the romantic comedy “Take Me Home Tonight.” The two fell in love, got married, and welcomed their son, Jack, and it seemed like Pratt’s personal and professional life had fallen into place.
His transition from television to film marked a significant turning point. In 2014, his career skyrocketed when he landed the role of Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
The film was a massive hit, transforming him into a bona fide movie star. That same year, he voiced Emmet in the animated blockbuster “The Lego Movie,” another smash hit that further solidified his position in Hollywood.
The following year, Pratt became the face of the “Jurassic Park” franchise revival with “Jurassic World.” The film became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time and established Pratt as a leading man.
His success continued with roles in “The Magnificent Seven” alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, and “Passengers,” where he starred opposite Jennifer Lawrence.