How Chris Pratt went from being a stripper to a Marvel, Jurassic World hero

Actor Chris Pratt has come a long way from his days stripping and living in a van to become one of Hollywood’s most lovable, and bankable action stars. The actor, who has two blockbusters in theatres this summer with Avengers: Infinity War and Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom, is poised for another huge year.

Listed as the fifth “best actor for the buck” by Forbes in 2017, Pratt raked in $43 million over the past two years, according to the outlet, and is expected to make $10 million for the new Jurassic World movie alone, reports Variety.com.

While the actor grew up in a blue collar household and was homeless for a time, he always knew he’d be successful and famous one day.

This image released by Marvel Studios shows, from left, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr., Dave Bautista, Chris Pratt and Pom Klementieff in a scene from Avengers: Infinity War. (AP)

“My high school wrestling coach reminds me about this time I came into his office and he said, ‘Chris, what do you want to do with yourself?’ “ Pratt told Entertainment Weekly in 2014.

He added: “I was like, ‘I don’t know, but I know I’ll be famous and I know I’ll make a s- ton of money.’ “

Still, Pratt had no idea how he was going to accomplish that. “I’ve never really had a plan,” he told people.com in 2014. “I’ve always been a bit of a ham, I guess.”

Growing up in Lake Stevens, Washington, he cultivated his charm by selling blackberries door-to-door. As of 2014, Pratt’s mother was still working at a Safeway grocery store, and his father, who died that same year, was a gold miner who later worked in construction.

Pratt studied acting at a local community college for half a semester, but dropped out when he saw what he thought was a good money making opportunity, reports people.com.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Chris Pratt in a scene from, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. (AP)

At 19, he began working as a stripper. “I was always a very much naked person. I loved to always get naked. I was very free, so I thought, I may as well get paid,” he told Buzzfeed in 2013.

Pratt gave up the stripper life when a friend invited him to live off the land in Hawaii. “I had a friend who was like, ‘Dude, you’ve got to come out here,’” Pratt told EW. “We set up camp on the beach and lived the dream.”

Pratt went on to star in the hit sitcom, Parks & Recreation and several comedy films, before transitioning into more action-centric roles. He also voices the lead character in the Lego Movie series.

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