In his acceptance speech after winning Best Supporting Actor, Ke Huy Quan again gave a heartfelt and emotional speech, talking about never giving up on your dreams.
The former child star, who spent years working behind the camera after the roles dried up for him, tearfully thanked his mother for getting started.
“My mom is 84 years old and she’s sitting at home watching,” he said. “Mom, I just won an Oscar.”
He also thanked her for her sacrifices and paid tribute to his status as a former refugee.
“My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here, on the biggest stage in Hollywood,” said Quan. “They say things like this only happen in movies. I can’t believe this is happening to me. This is the American dream.”
He also paid tribute to his wife, Echo, who he said “month after month, year after year for 20 years told me that one day my time will come.”
“Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine,” he said. “To all of you, please keep your dreams alive.”
Earlier on the red carpet, Quan said his family, including his brother whom he also thanked, traveled from Houston to support him on Oscars night.
The actor was the darling of awards season as the comeback story of the year, moving many to tears with each of his wins.