In a Hollywood culture that so frequently mocks Christians and family, one star is standing out.
Last weekend, Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In his acceptance speech, the 37-year-old actor first thanked God, before turning to his wife, actress Anna Faris, and son, Jack.
“I’m a man of faith and I believe that God works in mysterious ways and gives us signs and gifts in life and those gifts oftentimes come in the form of people,” he began.
One of those people, he continued, was his mom. My mother “gave absolutely everything she had to raise us, every thread, every fiber of her being,” he stressed. “And we weren’t – oftentimes we weren’t cash-rich, but we were never love-poor.”
After thanking other family members and colleagues, he turned to his wife.
“I want to thank my wife who — Anna, please, I love you. You’ve given me so much. You gave me the greatest star in the galaxy in my little boy,” he said, referring to their 4-year-old son Jack. “I love him and I love you.”
He continued his heartfelt thanks for Faris:
We have bonded to make this molecule that is more important to me than air or water and without it, none of this means anything to me. And with every challenge, every day, week, month, decade, we become more and more bonded. You make me laugh like nobody else. You’re very caring and thank you for your trust and for your sacrifice and for your dedication and your heart. I will do my best to protect it and, in return, I’ll give you all of those things as well. You have my heart and my dedication, my trust. So yeah, without you, none of this would be – mean anything.
Introducing her husband before his star was revealed, Faris stressed how Pratt remained by her side when Jack was born prematurely.
“We had all these amazing things already – beautiful home, great careers,” she said. “And then this thing, this thing that tests us, more than anything else, comes into our lives and we were so worried.”
“We were so worried during that month when you wanted to come out and see the sun,” she added to Jack. “And my husband stood by me and held me, and was my rock and my anchor.”
Pratt, a proud God-believer, gun owner, and American boasted a special relationship with his son while speaking at the 2014 March of Dimes Celebration of Babies. Born nine weeks early at 3 pounds, 12 ounces, Jack stayed in the NICU for a month.
“I made promises in that moment about what kind of dad I wanted to be and I just prayed that he’d live long enough that I could keep them,” Pratt said of cradling his son during that time.
“I’ve done all kinds of cool things as an actor,” Pratt stressed, “I’ve jumped out of helicopters and done some daring stunts and played baseball in a professional stadium, but none of it means anything compared to being somebody’s daddy.”
Earlier this month, Pratt also made headlines after saying Hollywood doesn’t represent blue-collar America. He has since walked back on those comments.
