Never Say Die

A monumental work of self-discovery and the power and grace of communal survival. Quan’s voice is crystalline and luminous, and his Odyssean journey to the screen is, in itself, a triumph of storytelling * Ocean Vuong, poet, essayist and internationally bestselling author *
Despite a myriad of setbacks, Ke has never lost his immense curiosity and heart, and this memoir has lashings of both * Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actor and activist *
Ke’s singular voice and masterful writing provide an intimate look at the unexpected turns of his life, from his harrowing immigration story to the remarkable years on and off the screen, culminating in a moment of pure triumph; a perfect encapsulation of the American dream * Sim Liu, actor and New York Times bestselling author of We Were Dreamers *
Immensely likeable on the screen and now also on the page, Ke Huy Quan has made it, but he has also never forgotten who he is and where he came from. Starting with his origins as a refugee from Viet Nam to his unlikely childhood stardom and then to his midlife renaissance as an Oscar-winning actor, Ke Huy Quan in this memoir affirms the qualities that have enchanted so many of us who have seen him in the movies. His is a story of bad luck and good luck, but it is also an inspirational, moving tale of a boy and then a man who worked hard and never gave up. Ke Huy Quan conquered Hollywood, and now in Never Say Die, he will conquer many hearts as well * Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer *
In a writerly voice that’s at once charming and contemplative, Quan shares the fascinating story of his biopic-worthy life * BookPage *
A touching account of a life with more than its share of ups and down * Kirkus Reviews *
Whether he’s recalling the monotony of life in the Hong Kong refugee camp he lived in after fleeing Vietnam or reminiscing about Harrison Ford teaching him to swim, Quan’s affable tone draws the reader in. It’s a winning self-portrait * Publishers Weekly *
A thoughtfully written, rare glimpse at being a child refugee and what it takes to make it in Hollywood * Booklist *

Ke Huy Quan is an Oscar-winning actor who immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Los Angeles. Discovered at an open casting call with no acting experience, he was cast at age 12 as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, followed by his role as Data in the beloved adventure classic, The Goonies. As opportunities became limited, he stepped away from acting to study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1999, and later worked behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director.

After more than two decades away from acting, he returned to the screen in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Academy Award-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, earning widespread acclaim along with the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has since appeared in Season 2 of the Disney+ series Loki, starred in Universal’s Love Hurts, and voiced Gary De’ Snake in Disney’s animated film Zootopia 2. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Echo.

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