“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….This, THIS, is the American Dream!”
– Ke Huy Quan, 2023 Oscar acceptance speech
Academy Award-winning actor and author Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Goonies, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) visited MICDS on October 1, 2026, for an exclusive Upper School student assembly to discuss his new memoir, Never Say Die. During the visit, Quan shared his personal journey, the importance of perseverance, and the power of never giving up on your dreams. Michelle Li P’37, award-winning news anchor for KSDK and co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation, facilitated the session.
Before the assembly, the Upper School Blanke Room became a stand-in green room where Quan, accompanied by his wife Echo and his publicist, arrived early to sign several books for students. Quan was thrilled to be stopping at a school during his national book tour and noted that MICDS was the only school on his tour. Li, along with Dr. Grace Lee, Dean of Faculty, had arranged a meet-and-greet with Quan for members of the Asian Student Association (ASA). With a handmade cake designed as a replica of his book Never Say Die, the stage was set for an exciting afternoon of connection and inspiration.
As ASA students trickled in, a line soon formed out the door. Quan, as friendly and sincere in real life as he is in many of his popular roles, greeted everyone with a smile, genuine interest, and a playful spirit as he signed books and posed for photos. He joked and laughed with students, many of whom are not as familiar with his roles as Short Round, Data, and Waymond Wang, but whose eyes lit up with recognition when he mentioned his roles as O.B. in Marvel’s TV series Loki and Gary De’Snake in Zootopia 2. Eventually, word got out, and more than just ASA students showed up. Upper School students and faculty alike were eager to see what all the fuss was about and, for some, to meet their childhood hero.
Head of Upper School Scott Small was especially thrilled to introduce Quan at the assembly:
It is not every day that one gets to meet their childhood hero, and it is rarer still that they then get to introduce their role model to a larger audience, but I am extraordinarily honored to have the opportunity to do so today. As a kid, I was obsessed with the movie Goonies and one character in particular — Richard “Data” Wang — who, through creativity, ingenuity, and determination, fought to keep those he loved safe. Goonies remains my favorite movie of all time, largely because of Data and his indomitable bravery. Similarly, I loved Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as well, especially the character Short Round, who used his underage driving skill, quick wit, and courage to repeatedly save Indy throughout their adventures.
It is my great privilege to introduce the gentleman who played both Data and Short Round, Ke Huy Quan, to you today. Mr. Quan took a step back from acting not long after those movies were released, due in large part to the lack of roles available to Asian actors at the time (a big mistake from the industry, if they only knew how much his work meant to people like me). In the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, Mr. Quan reestablished himself as a vital cultural voice, portraying a profound example of masculinity that achieved heroism through unyielding kindness and vulnerability. He earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, the first ever for a Vietnamese-born actor. If you have some time tonight, you should watch his acceptance speech online; it is well worth your time.
You might also know Mr. Quan from his recent role on the Marvel series Loki, or as the voice of Gary De’Snake in Zootopia 2 or in the TV adaptation of American Born Chinese (you may remember the author Gene Luen Yang visited us a couple of years ago).
In 2023, Time Magazine named Mr. Quan one of the 100 most influential people in the world. They pointed to a remarkable journey: from a young child in a refugee camp, after his family fled political upheaval in their homeland in the late 1970s, to a prominent voice in American life and culture today.
Every role I have ever seen Mr. Quan in has had a depth of soul, a clarity of purpose, and an abiding compassion for the people around him, and you are about to learn just how much of this is a reflection of who Mr. Quan is as a person.
Mr. Quan will be joined on stage by another remarkable human, Michelle Li, who is an award-winning anchor and reporter for KSDK and serves as a compelling force for compassion and understanding in the St. Louis community. Please welcome Ms. Li and Mr. Quan.
Quan arrived on stage to cheers and applause from the Upper School community. Li kicked off the conversation by asking about his new memoir, Never Say Die. Quan said, “I never thought I would ever be an author. In fact, if you told me just a few years ago that I would become a New York Times best-selling author, I would say you’re crazy. But since this book has come out, the reception has been so positive, and everything that I’ve heard so far, and in the reviews, a lot of wonderful people have reached out and told me that they see themselves in the story. They’re inspired by it. It’s everything that I want out of this journey.”
Shortly after immigrating to the U.S. at age 12, Quan and his family were focused on acclimating to their new life. He and his younger brother worked to improve their English through ESL tutoring in Chinatown, Los Angeles. One Saturday morning during a tutoring session, Steven Spielberg’s casting team was holding an open audition. Quan’s younger brother wanted to try out, so Quan accompanied him and ended up auditioning too. Chinatown just happened to be the casting team’s final stop after a huge global search across London, New York, San Francisco, and Singapore to find a child actor for the role of Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Quan noted how easily the opportunity could have slipped away if he hadn’t tagged along that day or if his family had lived anywhere else. He described the chance encounter and his eventual return to acting 40 years later as an act of destiny that permanently altered the trajectory of his life.
Quan then reflected on the turbulent transition from childhood stardom to the reality of work drying up as he hit puberty, forcing him to return to a standard high school environment. He said his high school years were rather isolating. Despite being widely recognized on campus, he lacked a social support system and often ate lunch alone in his car. While the people around him assumed he was thriving, Quan was quietly struggling with anxiety, isolation, and career rejection.
Quan shared that he grew up in a traditional Chinese household where expressing emotions wasn’t taught, which led him to suffer in silence while secretly feeling like a failure. When asked what advice he would give to young people, he stated very clearly, “Don’t hide your pain.” He noted that opening up and being vulnerable helps you realize you aren’t alone, and being open is how friendships and community are built.
He also faced a lot of rejection and had to redefine what he wanted in life. He encouraged students to pursue their passions for the love of it, not out of fear of failure, and to embrace failure as part of the process, and “hold tightly to what brings you joy.”
Quan returned to acting at age 49, which led to transformative career opportunities and roles after decades away from the craft. He said, “After graduation, everyone faces a defining test: choosing whether to keep fighting for their dreams or take the easy, low-resistance path. Keep fighting.”
What did he do in the two decades between his acting roles? Quan earned a degree in film production from the University of Southern California and built a behind-the-scenes career as an assistant director and action fight choreographer.
The floor was then open for questions:
- Where do you keep your Oscar? “It’s currently at the Academy Awards Museum.”
- What does the American Dream mean to you? “It’s not the success – it’s being given the opportunity to try.”
- What do you know about Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday? “Marvel is known for keeping secrets, so I know nothing!”
- What advice would you give for those who aren’t sure what they want to do? “Don’t rush; be patient, and follow your intuition.”
- What was your first thought when you won an Oscar? “I thanked my wife and parents because they helped make all of this happen. And that moment belonged to every version of me.”
The assembly closed with a standing ovation for Quan. Li shared, “It’s just so beautiful to see how stories connect us – no matter where we’re born, who raised us, or where we grew up. Dr. Lee made the visit possible, and I know MICDS left a lasting impression on Ke and Echo! I am so proud of our students! They asked thoughtful, brilliant questions and made the whole experience special.”
In Quan’s universally celebrated Oscar acceptance speech, he said, “Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive.”
Quan’s visit was made possible through a partnership between MICDS, the St. Louis County Library Foundation, and the Very Asian Foundation. Following his visit to MICDS, Quan rejoined Li for a sold-out facilitated discussion at the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch.