Ke Huy Quan recounts his journey from refugee to Oscar winner in ‘Never Say Die’
Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan publishes his memoir, "Never Say Die," on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. He recounts his childhood as a refugee, his early fame, and the two decades during which Hollywood offered him no roles.
Ke Huy Quan releases his memoir, “Never Say Die,” on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, through Grand Central Publishing. In the book, the actor details his journey from a Vietnamese refugee to a child star, followed by a long absence from the screen before his triumphant return, which culminated in an Oscar win.
In an interview with People, the 56-year-old actor describes writing this book as one of the most challenging experiences of his life. He reveals that he considered giving up several times while revisiting memories he had long kept silent, particularly those of exile and life in a refugee camp.
Born in Saigon to a Chinese family, Ke Huy Quan left Vietnam with his father in 1978. After a perilous boat journey and a stay in a camp in Hong Kong, his family reunited in Los Angeles, where he arrived at the age of eight.
His career began almost by chance. Accompanying his younger brother to an open audition, he caught the attention of casting directors himself. At 12, he was cast as Short Round alongside Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” He followed this with a role as Data in “The Goonies.”
However, this rise to fame was short-lived. With few opportunities for Asian actors, Ke Huy Quan left the industry, studied film at the University of Southern California, and worked as an action choreographer and assistant director. He notably collaborated behind the scenes with filmmaker Wong Kar-wai.
After more than twenty years away from acting, he returned to the screen in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” His portrayal of Waymond Wang earned him the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2023. Since then, he has appeared in the series “Loki,” the film “Love Hurts,” and lent his voice to Gary De’Snake in “Zootopia 2.”
The title “Never Say Die” references an iconic line from “The Goonies.” The book spans 256 pages and will be available in hardcover, digital, and audio formats. The launch tour will stop in Washington on September 16, Baltimore on September 17, and Cambridge on September 18.
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