The 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards took place on February 26 and honored some of the best and most deserving performances of 2022 in film and TV. Among those honored with the statues was actor Ke Huy Quan who received a SAG award for Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Not only did Ke Huy Quan receive recognition at the 29th SAG awards for a role that he was so appreciated for, but he also made history at the ceremony. On top of it all, Ke Huy Quan’s acceptance speech warmed the hearts of everyone listening as he used the emotional moment to motivate those struggling with finding the spotlight. It’s moments like this that make us realize why the audience loves Ke Huy Quan so much!
Ke Huy Quan Gives an Emotional Acceptance Speech
What makes Ke Huy Quan’s win so much more special is the fact that the award marks him as the first-ever Asian male to win a film acting award at this prestigious award ceremony. He is also only the second Asian actor to win an individual award at SAG overall with Squid Games’ Lee Jung-jae taking home an award for Male Actor in a Drama Series.
As Quan stepped up to the stage to accept not many would have imagined the heartfelt speech the actor had ready for us. He started off by acknowledging the fact that he had made history with the win and added that the victory was not just his, but it belongs to everyone who asked for change.
“This is a really emotional moment for me. Recently I was told that if I was to win tonight, I would become the very first Asian actor to win in this category. When I heard this I quickly realized that this moment no longer belongs to just me, it also belongs to everyone who has asked for change.”
Quan brought it to everyone’s attention that because there were very few opportunities for him, he ended up taking decades-long hiatus from the entertainment industry. He did not forget to mention his fellow actors in his speech stating that the landscape has changed so much today from what it was like before.
“And now tonight here we are, celebrating James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Hong Chau and Harry Shum Jr. The landscape looks so different now than before. So thank you so much all of you in this room and everyone who contributed to these changes.”
He even had a special message for his on-screen wife, Michelle Yeoh. Quan stated that he was glad they both started their respective careers in 1984 and met again on the big screen. Yeoh also won a SAG award for Female Actor in a Leading Role for Everything Everywhere All at Once. In the end, Quan had a heartfelt message/advice to everyone who was struggling in their lives. He stated,
“To all those at home that are watching, that are struggling and waiting to be seen, please keep on going because the spotlight will one day find you.”
Now that’s advice everyone needs to hear at least once in their lives. Not only do they realize that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, but seeing Quan’s journey motivates them, even more, to never give up on their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.
Why Ke Huy Quan Once Quit Acting
It wasn’t an easy road to stardom for Quan. While he had two huge films early on in his career – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Goonies – that was about it for the actor. He was just 12 years old when he appeared alongside Harrison Ford as Short Round in Temple of Doom. However, after Goonies, what was thought to be the beginning of a colorful career, ended up reaching a dead end.
Aside from a few small roles, Quan’s trajectory wasn’t going as he would’ve liked. This led to him quitting acting for a long period of time, starting in 2002. He only resurfaced in Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2022. Talking to People, Quan revealed why he did what he did.
“…[I thought] that I was going to have this amazing career…It was tough. I was waiting for the phone to ring, and it rarely did…I was happy working behind the camera but I had serious FOMO. I wanted to be up there with my fellow Asian actors.”
Looking back at Quan’s career in the entertainment industry, his advice seems to be coming from personal experience. The spotlight finally shone on him and how!
Everything Everywhere All at Once is available to stream on Paramount+.
Source: Twitter
