Ke Huy Quan on navigating America as a refugee

The world would be a “much better place” if people looked at immigrants with “empathy and kindness,” Ke Huy Quan says.

“I don’t like politics, and I’m not a political person at all, but I will always stand on the side of humanity,” he told PBS News’ Amna Nawaz.

Quan came to America as a refugee. He later became a child star, appearing in “Indiana Jones” and “The Goonies,” and, decades later, he made an Oscar-winning comeback in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

In his memoir, “Never Say Die,” Quan reflects on his family’s escape from Vietnam, his time away from acting and the people and experiences that helped him find his way back.

Quan added that he was “ashamed” of being a refugee for a long time, but writing the book helped him confront his identity and the stigma that comes with it.

“We were constantly made fun of, and that really gave me a sense that I’m not worthy,” he said. “So I hope that people can look at refugees or immigrants, hopefully, just through a lens of empathy and kindness.”

He spoke to Nawaz about his memoir and more. For the full episode, click the link in our bio.

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