Ke Huy Quan wins Oscar, relives emotional journey from a refugee camp: 'My journey started on a boat'

The Academy Awards 2023 was a star-studded event where one of the biggest winners was "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The movie was about a middle-aged Chinese immigrant on an exciting adventure to save the world. Amazingly, it has bagged several honors in the event, including Best Lead Actress, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing and Best Screenplay. Among the winners is Ke Huy Quan, who won his first Oscar as the Best Actor in a Supporting Role in the blockbuster movie, reported TODAY.

During the March 12 ceremony, Quan delivered a poignant and emotionally charged speech while accepting the highly coveted award. The audience was captivated by Quan's raw emotion and sincere gratitude as he tearfully expressed his appreciation for the honor bestowed upon him. Upon taking the stage, it was evident that Quan was deeply moved by the recognition, as he was already overcome with tears. However, despite his emotional state, Quan managed to maintain his composure and deliver a powerful speech that left the audience cheering and applauding.

He began his speech by saying, "My mom is 84 years old, and she's at home watching. Mom, I just won an Oscar." He held up his award while the audience applauded. The 51-year-old actor talked about his time in a refugee camp, saying, "My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood's biggest stage. They say stories like these only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it's happening to me. This– this is the American dream. Thank you so much."

He also dedicated the award to his family, who have been a constant source of love and encouragement in his life. He said, "Thank you so much to the Academy for this honor of a lifetime. Thank you to my mom for the sacrifices she made to get me here. To my little brother, David, who calls me every day just to remind me to take care of myself: I love you, brother."

Quan's heartfelt acceptance speech was a highlight of the ceremony, leaving a lasting impression on the people in attendance. His ability to bring down the house with his raw emotion and genuine gratitude is a testament to his talent as an actor and his humility as a person. Quan, who first appeared on the big screen in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," expressed his gratitude towards his "Goonies" co-star, Jeff Cohen (known for his role as Chunk), whom he affectionately referred to as his "Goonies brother for life." In addition to thanking his co-star, Quan also took a moment to acknowledge his wife, whom he credited for supporting him throughout his career. Despite a 20-year hiatus from acting, Quan's passion for the craft remained and he ultimately made a successful return to the screen.

He said, "I owe everything to the love of my life, my wife, Echo, who month after month, year after year, for 20 years, told me that one day, one day my time will come. Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine." He emphasized the importance of believing in yourself, saying, "To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive. Thank you so much for welcoming me back. I love you. Thank you."

Watch the full speech here: