We all knew Chris Pratt was awesome from the moment we saw him as Bright Abbott on Everwood. Then he showed us he was basically a slapstick comedy god as Andy on Parks and Recreation. But he really propelled to leading man mega-fame when he starred in Guardians of the Galaxy last year. This Friday, he takes on a little dino franchise you may have heard of. Jurassic World is sure to take him to even greater heights. But in case you want to get to know him a little better (before he becomes totally untouchable), here are some facts about him you may not already know:
1. He dated his Everwood co-star Emily Van Camp (who played his sister on the show).
2. He met his wife Anna Faris on the set of Take Me Home Tonight and they are both Washington state natives.
3. He’s been in 3 Best Picture Oscar-nominated movies (Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty and Her).
4. He was given a part in the horror movie Cursed Part 3 while serving the film’s director at a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant.
5. He doesn’t have any formal acting training.
6. He used to sell coupons door-to-door.
7. Chris and Anna bonded over their dead bug collections.
8. Andy wasn’t originally supposed to be a series regular on Parks and Recreation.
9. He can play the guitar.
10. He lived out of a Scooby-Doo van in Hawaii before he was famous.
11. He learned to bat left-handed for his role in Moneyball.
12. He considers Philip Seymour Hoffman one of his all-time favorite actors. The two worked together on Moneyball.
13. He was a total jock in high school, playing football, running track and wrestling.
14. He read for the roles of Captain James T. Kirk in the 2009 film Star Trek, and for Jake Sully in the 2009 film Avatar, but didn’t get cast in either part. Those roles went to Chris Pine and Sam Worthington.
15. He worked briefly with Kim Kardashian on the 2009 film Deep in the Valley.
16. He can speak German.
17. He briefly worked as a stripper, ala Channing Tatum.
18. He was voted Class Clown in high school. (Duh.)
19. He can french braid hair.
20. He’s comfortable being naked and actually flashed Amy Poehler on camera for a scene in Parks and Recreation. That take made it into the show.
What’s YOUR favorite thing about Chris Pratt? Are you excited for Jurassic World? Tell us by commenting below!
Other Reasons To Love Chris:
21 Andy Dwyer Life Lessons From Parks and Rec
Which Chris Pratt Movie Is The Best?
