Loading summary
David Spade
Robert Half research indicates nine out of 10 hiring managers are having difficulty hiring. If you have open roles, chances are you're feeling this too. That's why you need Robert Half. Our specialized recruiting professionals engage their skills with our award winning AI to connect businesses of all sizes with highly skilled talent in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative and customer support. At Robert Half, we know talent. Visit roberthalf.com today. Whether you're listening to Fly on the Wall at Double speed or regular speed, you'd probably love to know how you can get more cash back on your credit card. Either way, we'll slow things down a bit so you don't miss anything.
Dana Carvey
Discover automatically doubles all the cash back you've earned on your credit card at the end of your first year. With cash back match, that means with Discover you could turn $150 cash back to $300.
David Spade
It pays to Discover. See terms@discover.com credit card.
Dana Carvey
Our guest today is Kiwi Kwan Qi has an amazing story. So you really want to listen to this podcast. And I never say that I'm not a salesman, but he has an amazing story. He just was in school. His, his family came from Vietnam and he was just in school in LA and they said, hey, there's a movie. He and boom. Indiana Jones, the Temple of Doom. And then later on he gets into Goonies. He has this nice little run and then the story gets more dramatic there.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
David.
David Spade
It's very complicated. It's very, it's, it's, it's more of a story of a hard luck story the way that happens in Hollywood. But this one has a happy ending and it doesn't always happen that way. But it's a guy that's really persevered and tried and hung in there and had good people around him and really zero ego. Lots of talent and just a good dude to talk to. And he has. Very inspiring to hear him talk about literally anything.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yes.
Dana Carvey
And this episode will get into romance and the support of his spouse. It's pretty moving and just, just about as nice a person that's ever been on our shows.
David Spade
He's got a new movie called Love Hurts.
Dana Carvey
Love Hurts is out in theaters.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Actually.
David Spade
He was in everything Everywhere all at once, which was Academy Award bait. And I think he won.
Dana Carvey
We'll let them find out, I think.
David Spade
Yeah.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Well, listen to this as you drive.
Dana Carvey
Guard, go to the gym or if you're doing the dishes. Thank you.
David Spade
Anyway, here he is. What a great dude and hope you have a nice listen. We, we we sure had a nice time talking to him.
David
First of all, I. I gotta. I gotta geek out a little bit. I cannot believe I'm talking to both of you. I've been a massive, massive fan of both of your work. In fact, talking to you right now, it's very intimidating, Ezra, because you guys are so funny. You guys are so funny. I wish. I wish my. My Goonies brother, Jeff Cohen, AKA Chuck, is here with me because he's very funny.
David Spade
You know, it's funny. First of all, thank you very much for that. And you don't have to be funny. You don't have to be anything here.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
We just don't have to be anything. Mistakes are good. Over talking is one of our skill sets. Notice I'm doing it right now. Yeah, if you get on a roll, we will stop you. So don't. Don't even put any. There's no pressure for you.
David Spade
You know, Dana, I didn't see Goonies when it came out. This is so crazy. And I. The other night it was on, and I'm like, oh, this is Goonies that literally every person in the world has seen. And so I started watching it, and they're in some underwater cave. There's some cave, and they're trying to dig out of the mud. Is that Goonies? That's it. Right?
Kiwi Kwan Qi
There's a cave.
David
And how old were you when you. When you saw it, if you didn't see it as a kid?
David Spade
I. I'm old now. I'm 104. But when I saw it, it was one week ago.
Dana Carvey
I was old.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I was old in the 80s, so I. Old. I was old then. But I saw it. It was great.
David
And did you like it? Because it's one of those movies where, like, you watch it as a kid and you grow up with it, and then you ended up, like, that being your favorite movie. But I wonder, like, what's it like to watch it as an adult?
David Spade
It's fun because it's nostalgic the way I used to like movies. So it just threw me back to being that age, going, this is exactly what I would like. This is like a fun. And all. All the kids are acting goofy and people are after them, and it just.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David Spade
How did I. How I missed it? I don't know, but I just thought, oh, this is why everyone likes it. You can tell in five minutes of watching it that it's got a good vibe.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I think it's had resonance, you know, with Stranger Things. And there's. It's a. It's an important movie. It's part of that, that zeitgeist. And I think it was mimicked a lot, you know, but it was, it's just fun. Kids on adventure caves, bad guys. I mean, it's just fun. Fun.
David
Yeah, it's the, you know, it's the greatest story of all time for a kid. I meant to find a treasure map and go on this like, incredible adventures with your friends where you go down water slides and you step on booby traps and, you know, and you come upon this like, you know, full size Irish ship. It was just, it was an incredible experience for me and for all the Goonies.
David Spade
And you're with your buddy. I mean, it just shows kids together and that's your dream. Like do something fun and you're with your friends. And Steven Spielberg's the boss.
David
Yeah, he's the head Goonie. And of course, you know, Dick Donner did an incredible job allowing us to be kids. You know, if you watch that movie, we were constantly just talking over one another and that. I mean, back then you don't do that. Sure, you're trained to like, wait until the other actor finished talking before you say your line. But from day one, we were all hamstring. We could not wait to say our lines. And of course it drove the sound guy crazy. But Dick Donner was laughing the entire time behind the monitors because that's what kids are. That's what they do.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah, he had a moving master shot then. A lot of the time with you guys, I assume if you're all overlapping.
David
Yeah, oh, yeah, we did master shots. We did coverage. We did the whole thing. And Dick loves to shoot with multiple cameras. For example, the pirate ship, the very first time we saw the pirate ship was captured on camera. You might have heard this story before, but when they were building the ship on stage 16 on the Warner Brothers lot, Spielberg and Donner placed a security camera right by the door. And they closed that giant gate so nobody could see what was happening inside. Built the ship and when it was ready to film it, they, you know, they, they blindfolded us and we were walking backwards, being escorted by by the crew. And they catch seven cameras pointing at us. And we got underwater, we hear action. We pop up and turned around. And what you see in the movie is the very first time that we saw the pirate ship. And it was incredible. It was an amazing sight.
David Spade
So smart.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
God, I think better of Richard Donner than I always did. You know, the not only man Superman, the last great Superman. Although there's One coming out. Brilliant, brilliant movie with Brando and Christopher Reeves and everything. So then he altered his shooting style to accommodate kids. And so that's probably a big reason why it just pops. It's not stilted. It flows. I'm fascinated.
David Spade
I never get the weapon, too. He was. He's on. And the Omen.
David
Yeah, the Omen. Lethal Weapon, Scrooge with Bill Murray.
David Spade
I remember that.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I remember that.
David
Yeah. He's just. He's such a versatile filmmaker.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah, I auditioned for him once. I don't know if you ever had any auditions where you didn't get the part. He. But I auditioned for Richard Donner for some movie in the early 80s, and I had no experience. We were supposed to pretend we were crawling in a cave or something. Maybe it was. And I was.
David Spade
Maybe it was Goonies.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
You do the audition and they're like, well, okay, that's good. You want me to do anything else? No, we're good. Thank you.
David Spade
What about the other five scenes? Nope, we're just. We're gonna do one today. That's it. We got a good seal for you.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
So you had Richard, you had Spielberg, and then you had Richard Donner. That's a pretty good start.
David
Yeah, I started. I'll tell you the story about Dick Donner you'll love. I did Goonies with him, and this was many years later, maybe in 1990. Most of the time I was just an unemployed actor. And there was this role that came in. It was a role for an episode of Tales from the Crypt.
David Spade
Oh, yeah.
David
It was a show that he produced, hbo, but he didn't direct. It was hbo. And this was like. Maybe like a year and a half I haven't worked. And I. My agent called me and says, hey, you know, there's this role. Take us from the Crypt. You know, it's. You know, you're one of the guys. It's very. Goonies ask. But, you know, in the horror genre. And I said, yeah, I love to go on an audition. So I auditioned for the producer. He wasn't there. He didn't know about it. I auditioned for the producer and the. And the director at that time. And when he found out that I went in and auditioned, he told him. He says, give him the part. Give him the part. It doesn't matter whether he's right or not.
David Spade
What a sweetheart.
David
Very sweet. And then, sure enough, a week later, my agent told me I got the role. And it had everything to do with Donner. That's how nice he is.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Wow.
David Spade
Yeah. I mean, it's good if you have a good experience, too.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
You know, like you get, you get the Spielberg film. Did you have any experience or is it completely. Let's try out for a movie or had you done something before Indiana Jones?
David
No. No. Nothing. I was, you know, this was 1983. I just immigrated to the United States. Four years. I can barely speak English. I was busy being a kid, you know, trying to acclimate, know, into my, into my new life. I was living in Chinatown, Los Angeles. At that time, it was just a very small Chinese community. Yeah. And I was busy going to school and, and living out my new life. And one day the casting director and, and, and, and his associate came to my elementary school, and they were.
David Spade
School. How great.
David
Yeah.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Wow.
David
They were just interviewing all the kids that they. That the casting director thought might be right for the role of Short Round. I knew nothing about it. I didn't even want. I mean, being an actor was the last thing I ever wanted. I was just. I was busy doing homework and learning English, and I don't know what I did. Then my brother went to audition. I, you know, I tagged along. And literally the very next day, I got a call from Spielberg's office, and she said, you know, we would like you to come in and meet with Steven and George. I didn't know who they were. I didn't have a car back then.
David Spade
Who are those creeps?
David
The entire family. We were, you know, we didn't have a car. Live in Chinatown, and we can get by just walking to everywhere. Uh, and when they heard that I couldn't, you know, go to their office, they said, don't worry, we're going to send you a driver.
David Spade
A driver? Hilarious.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
13. And the day before, you were just in class.
David
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
David Spade
You're nervous. Like, am I short enough? Am I round enough?
David
Yeah. And that's, and that's how it all started. It was, it was, it was crazy, but it was, it was the best thing that has ever happened.
David Spade
Oh, my gosh. That was such a huge movie, too.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Can I just ask you a question? So when you're in the classroom and they go, okay, read for a movie. Are you holding a script? Or are they just feeding you stuff and seeing your personality? I'm just curious. Did you. How did that first reading go? Just.
David
Well, they, they, they had a setup in the gym, okay.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
With cameras.
David
And all the kids were just, like, you know, sitting and waiting for their name to be called when I went into this little room where they had, like, a camera set up. And person to read with us. There was sites, they gave us sites. And, And I can barely understand any of it. I didn't know what. Indeed. I don't even know India is a name or a person. This was a sequel to one of.
David Spade
The biggest movies, Indiana.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David
Yeah. I, I, you know, and of course, I, I mean, I fumbled. I was bad at it. I didn't know what I was saying. But luckily the. The casting director saw something and asked me to put the sights away and say, key, I just want to talk to you for a few minutes.
David Spade
Yeah, and that's more like it. To see what you're like.
David
Yeah, to see. To see what I was like. Ask me how old I was, how you know, you know, how I got to the States and, you know, what's my family like? What's my favorite subject? And so I, I answered everything. Little did I know, years later, the casting director told me that the minute I walked out the door, he calls Steven Spielberg and says, we don't have to look anymore. We found your kid. That was pretty amazing.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Wow. Can I say, I'm just curious. So I don't know what economic strata your family was at at this point. What did they pay you for this movie? And did it change the dynamic or did it. What was that like? Did you just get union scale?
David Spade
Any scale is huge for someone who doesn't have money, right, Dana?
David
That's a great question. We were broke. We were. My parents. My parents literally gave everything they had to get all of us, the entire family. My family is a total of 11 people. My parents had nine kids. So they gave up everything they had to get all of us here in the United States. So by the time we got here, they lost everything and they were heavily in debt. And here comes this movie. I didn't have an agent. I was not a member of Screen Actors Guild. I didn't have a lawyer to look after me. So whatever they gave me, whatever contract agreement they gave me to sign, we just signed it.
David Spade
Of course.
David
And it was not until later one, I was paid a very generous salary. But what was even more incredible was that they made me a profit participant.
David Spade
What?
Kiwi Kwan Qi
No.
David
Now, without asking, without asking, without lawyers protecting me with agents asking, it's never you do, you know, Never, you know, you never get profit participant unless you really fight for it. And this is why I'm so grateful to them. Because knowing that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is going to be the biggest movie in 1984, and yet they're still so generous and still so willing to make me a profit participant. And when the movie came out, sure enough, that very first check that came in was big enough where I didn't have to, you know, our parents didn't have to rent a tiny homes for all of us. I was able to afford to buy a bigger house.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Sure.
David
For all of us to live in. And sure enough, only it changed my life, but it changed all of my family's life.
David Spade
Unreal.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
So I mean, this is sort of inside baseball, but you know that you get. Sometimes you'll get net points on a movie, they call it, but the movie says we've never made a profit. But no matter how big, it's Spielberg, it's Indiana Jones at its peak. So I assume that, yeah, you got actual checks. And they kept coming.
David
I got checks, I, I get, I get, you know, statements sent to me every quarter and what is it, 40 years later, 40 years later, oh wow, I'm still getting a nice mailbox money every year. I mean it really, it's just, it's, it's so incredible to think, to think back back then I was just a 12 year old kid, you know, oh.
David Spade
God, you would have done it for a new baseball man. Like I would do my first jobs when I was 20. I would do it for you don't even ask. You don't want to get fired. You're like, what are you paying me? I don't even ask. Just please. You know, the, the thing I thought you were heading towards was not only do you get, let's say you get scale, let's say you do something and.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
It'S, you know, back then, $1500.
David Spade
1500 a week, 800, fine. But the trick is you get residuals. So if you don't know that and used to, I remember did an old Police Academy movie. Oh, a couple people remember. Thank you.
David
And I remember David. I love that, I love that movie. I love, I love Police Academy movies.
David Spade
So that was my first one. I played a skateboarder. And then I did it and I got obviously enough money for me. I loved it, whatever it was. And then six months later I was driving from LA to Arizona and I went to the little skinny mailbox with the key and you open it up at your apartments and check for like 2,800 bucks out of nowhere. And it was because it got sold HBO or it was residual and I was like, wait, you get money after? I could not believe it. And then I kept getting little jibs and dabs and then you do a sitcom and Then you get a check. And then I'm like, that's where actors kind of stay alive. So you got that and profit participation. So what a. What a. That's the real Treasure movie, I gotta say.
David
You know, I mean, after Goonies, I've been very open about this during those times when I couldn't get a job, when I couldn't get work as an actor and I was just struggling. I was either in school or. Those checks were huge. They were, you know, they were really, I think when, when they, when that check came in, I mean, it was such a big help economically.
David Spade
And I'm sure you don't sound like you live like a crazy life. Like, if you're living like most people, just trying to live a normal life and just get by, those checks really help cover almost everything. Yeah, you don't need a lot because you're not spending a lot. So it's great to get that. Keep you afloat. I love it. This episode is brought to you by Ring Cameras and Doorbells. A lot happens while you're away from home. That's why Ring makes it easy to check in from anywhere. Whether you're saying hi to an unexpected guest, making sure those packages are safe, or keeping your pets company while you're out grabbing groceries, it's all a few taps away right from your phone. Be there with Ring Explore, cameras, doorbells, alarm kits and more right now@ring.com okay, this is a message from sponsor Intuit. TurboTax Now Taxes is 100% free when you file in the TurboTax app. If you're a first time filer or didn't file a TurboTax last year. That's right. Just do your own taxes in the TurboTax app by February 18th. Had a few jobs last year. It's free. Have a lot of forms. Yep, it's still free. Have a bunch of new invisible crypto coins. Heads up. It's still free.
Dana Carvey
Convinced you saw Bigfoot? Even if your friends don't believe you, that has absolutely nothing to do with taxes. But you better believe it's still absolutely free. Just download and do your own taxes in the TurboTax app by 218.
David Spade
All tax forms all 100% free. Now this is taxes. See if you qualify in the TurboTax app excludes TurboTax Live. Must start and file an app by 2:18.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Back in the day, just for a sec because I came from not as big a family. There are five of us and stuff. And I just wondered if the dynamic of what happened to you? Were you starting to get recognized? Or did your mom and dad say, okay, you can get a new bicycle? Was there anything? Or. It just went to them, and everything went on as usual. Was there any change in the dynamic with your siblings that you're a star? You know, it's like my.
David
My. My parents are very strict, you know, the. The very traditional Chinese value parents. And everybody treated me like. Like. Like, you know, I was not a star, not an actor. So I think. I think because of that, because of my upbringing, I was very grounded, and I never allowed my fame to get to my head. But of course, that time, I mean, those were big movies. So wherever I go, I go out, people will recognize me. Yeah, we'll come up for pictures, for autographs, and my siblings would just, you know, smile and be proud. They're very proud of me.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah. That's so healthy.
David Spade
That's so nice. It was great to hear about people.
David
And the thing is, you know, there's no jealousy because they don't want to be actors. You know, the very. You know, they. All of them want to. To be in business. They're very business savvy. Kind of like taking after my parents. My. My dad was a successful businessman.
David Spade
Yeah. So that's why you moved out here. No one came to act, right? You didn't come out.
David
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nobody. None of us wanted to be actors.
David Spade
Yeah. Just a happy accident.
David
Yeah. So that's why I feel like I'm adopted in some way. I'm so different from my siblings.
David Spade
Where is the premiere? I'm guessing it was at the Chinese Theater because it's such a big place for a premiere.
David
You know what's incredible?
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Or west or the dome.
David
Okay, so 40 years ago, we premiered Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the Man Chinese Theater.
David Spade
Yeah.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
All right.
David
And it was also on the same day that I witnessed Steven Spielberg and George Lucas got their very own hand and footprint ceremony.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I was a kid.
David
I was just blown away. I go, wow, what is this? Like, they must be really special to have their. You still don't know in this theater.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David Spade
That's nice.
David
Come February 3rd, I'm gonna have. I'm gonna be honored with my very own hand and footprint ceremony, Man Chinese Theater. And we're gonna be premiering Love Hurts at the same place. It's such a. It's such a. A full circle moment. It's so surreal. I cannot believe it.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
That is I. For people who don't know about Hollywood and having your hand prints and footprints.
David Spade
That'S better than a star. I think it's.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
It's for my age. I mean, it's Cary Grant, it's John Wayne. I mean, it's the greatest stars in the. In the world, so. And now here you are. You know, we're kind of going along with your resume here, but, yeah, you do have a new movie coming out that you star in. And I watched the trailer. It's out February 7th. Love hurts and it looks just great. It's the kind of movie I love. And in the trailer, I noticed because I know that if you had a stunt double, maybe you did or not, but you're really moving well. And I love the notion of a movie of a reluctant hero. You know, it's not like you're Steven Seagal or something. Please don't make me do my thing. And then here it is without giving it away. That conceit is so much fun. But just for a second. Did you study Taekwondo? Did you do all your own stunts or what? What was that like being that physical again now that you're not 13 anymore?
David
But I did study Taekwondo. In fact, it was right after Temple of Doom. I was trained in Temple of Doom for. For a week to do that. Fights. Fight at the end of the movie. And I fell in love with it. And I came back to the States and my brother and I enrolled ourselves in Taekwondo classes and I studied for many years. I got a black belt. And during that entire time, I really love watching those Hong Kong 80s action movies with Jackie Chan.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
That's what it reminded me of, the movements.
David
And those movies, you can clearly see that it's the actors doing all the fights up on the screen. There's just something real and there's something at stake that when you know that it's them and it's not just some stunt double.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David Spade
So much easier to shoot, too.
David
And so with this movie, Love Hurts, I want to distinguish between stunts and fights. Stunts, I don't do stunts. That is a very specific skill that these stunt guys trained heavily for. And to me, stunts is falling off buildings, getting hit by a car, or being sent fire. Those are very dangerous stuff. Put the, you know, lives on. On the line to make us look good. What I can do well are fights. And fights involve like punches and kicks, falling off to the ground. Selling a hit. It's not easy to sell ahead. It. It. It's much harder than it looks.
David Spade
You probably get hit a lot, huh? You probably get hit a lot because it's so hard to get it perfectly right. Because you want it so close that it looks real. But I'm sure sometimes there's mistakes.
David
Yeah, it's scary to sell a hit. And also you have to snap your head back.
David Spade
That's hard for your neck.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Over and over again, over and over again.
David
And then your body has to be in it. I remember the first fight we did with Marshawn lynch, and he's a big guy.
David Spade
Marshawn Lynch. Oh, yeah.
David
And the scene starts with him and Andre, the other actor. They're both killers. They come in and they take me and they just beat the shit out of me. In the beginning, like, for the first, like, half. Half a day, all I did was just reacting to punches, you know, left and right, up and down. I woke up the next day, I can barely move my neck, of course, and I have to. I have to ask production to get me a physical therapist. But. But it's a lot of work. It's really demanding. But once when you said put together, it's also extremely satisfying.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David Spade
Did I read that you. In some of the slower times between jobs, you were. You were teaching fights, or is that crazy? You were.
David
I was choreographing.
David Spade
Yeah. Yeah.
David
I worked on a movie with Hugh Jackman called the X Men. And, you know, a Hong Kong director named Koi Yuan kind of took me under his wings when I graduated from film school and, you know, all those skills that I acquired from martial arts, I. When I was young, I was like, I was so excited because I thought I would be able to use those in movies. I thought, you know, Hollywood would hire me to be the next action hero. But. But, you know, that didn't happen. And I had to put my skills away for many years, never thinking that I would have to call upon them again. So this is. It's been such a surreal feeling for me to be able to do Love Hurts and especially to be in the number one on the call sheet for this movie.
David Spade
That is a big deal.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
It's fascinating, your story. I don't know if anyone quite has your story. And getting the Oscar in 2022 and now becoming an action hero, it just. The arc of this is so fascinating. And just for a second, mentally for you, I know you kept busy and got your residual checks, but those 19 years, wondering when it would happen again for you, how did you manage that? And was it difficult at times, did you ever feel discouraged or did you sort of anticipate somewhere in your subconscious, like, it's coming for me? Because now. Now you're headlining an action Film. It looks incredible. Incredible. And you've got the best supporting actor Oscar. It's just such a story. How do you process this?
David
You know, I wish I can say it was easy. I went through a range of emotions. I was frustrated, I was confused, I was sad, I was despondent, I was miserable. And of course, as the years went by, any hope of this happening just grows dimmer and dimmer goes away. But, I mean, honestly, I don't think I would be here without my wife. She is my lucky charm. She is my everything. She's the one, for some reason, believe in me and saw all of this, really, she saw all of this happening and this. And we're talking about 20, starting 20 years ago. We've been together 20, 22 years now. So for 22 years, she kept saying, you know, you're going to be successful again one day. And in the beginning, it was really, you know, it was really inspiring. It was really uplifting. I'm with this girl that I love, and she believes that I'm going to be somebody one day. And she has such a great eye. Over the years, every time she, she. She tells me that this person is going to be successful, it happens. But at the same time, it was frustrating for me is because she truly believed. She believed in me more than anybody. And yet it wasn't happening for me. It was happening for other people. That, she pointed out, gives me anxiety.
David Spade
Just thinking about it. Like, it's such a long. Yeah, it was.
David
It was hard. It was hard. And I. And I felt like, man, if one day I don't, you know, if this doesn't happen, I'm gonna disappoint her. She's not gonna love me anymore. She's gonna leave me. She's gonna say, oh, my gosh, I. I placed a bet on the wrong guy. I mean, of course, she's not that kind of person, but that's what was going through my head, sure, a long time. And I was just scared. I was really scared.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
God, that's so fascinating. Here's the one word that it seems like just talking to you now, not something that's in your personality, but it's very common in show business and that. And I met a lot of people with bitterness. I got screwed. The business let me down. It's not my fault, you know, and you didn't use that word a minute ago. You use despondent, discouraged, embarrassed, but not bitter. And I think, because if you get bitter, you really lessen your chances of getting lucky, because no one likes an ungrateful, bitter person. You have to really guard for that. So did you ever feel those emotions, but. Or you just stay kind of humble in a way.
David
You know, it's how I wish, how I was taught and how I grew up. I never once, believe it or not, never once did I feel bitter, and never once did I blame anybody but myself. I didn't blame the system. I didn't blame, oh, you know, there was just not enough roles for Asians to go around. I didn't think any of that. I just felt that, oh, maybe I was too short, maybe I wasn't, you know, wasn't a good enough actor. That's why I didn't take those role. You know, the role went to a better actor than me. I never. Here's the thing. I always talk about the difference between envy and jealousy. And, and tell me if you guys agree with this. Like, when I see somebody doing really well up on this on screen or have tremendous talent, I always go, oh, wow, I wish I have that. So I envy them for having that. That talent or that success. But I'm never jealous of them. And I think jealousy brings you down versus envy encourages you to keep going and to not give up hope. I never. Yeah, I never. I never felt better.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I always have from day one, and it's still my touchstone. My dream was to make as much doing stand up in these little clubs as I made as a waiter. So my goal was really, back then, when I got to making an average of maybe 600amonth, okay, I could put 10. Took off the waiter's apron and I felt gratitude ever since. I always go back to that because it's not promise for anyone. It's a. I call it. It can be an emotionally violent career as opposed to being a grade school teacher or whatever that's more consistent. But I think that's why when everything everywhere all at once came up, you were just ready because you did not. And that's, that's just a great lesson for anyone listening to this who's an aspiring actor. Never, never go to that jealousy or bitterness. It'll just eat you alive and make you take your talent away, really.
David Spade
So it's hard, though. It's hard not to.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Sometimes human, it's hard to place.
David Spade
You don't know where to place the blame or what's going on. And you're like, I'm a good person. Everyone, I think, has gone through that.
David
Yeah, it's not easy. That's why, like, during those times, you really need somebody who Believes in you. I was very lucky. I had my wife. God knows if she was, if I wasn't with her, where would I be today? I, I, you know, I don't even know if I, if I would have the courage to continue. So that's why it's important to have, you know, friends who believe in you. Family. I have a great family. They've been, they've been so supportive. And also, you know, over the years, too, they've tried to. They tried to get me to give up and go to Houston and do business with them.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I'll get a real job.
David Spade
It's time to get out here.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Can I ask you. You could.
David Spade
I saw you in the movie.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Your relationship with your wife is one of the most also romantic things I've. I've heard. And that is a movie in itself. Just, just for a second, was it love at first sight or how did you meet or what was the early courtship? And when did you know, this is the one for me. Was it pretty much thunderstruck or. Just talk to that a little bit, if you would. It's fascinating.
David
So we, we used to work for a Hong Kong filmmaker named Wong Kar Wai, and she was in Shanghai at that time. And Wong Kar Wai flew me there to work on a few projects. And we met, and from day one, we have endless conversations. We never stop talking. We enjoy each other's company. And, yeah, we spent every day, every minute, every hour together during my time in Shanghai. And then when I had to come back to the States and we were separated, all I could think of was her. And she. We didn't have much money at that time, and it was at a time, this is 2002, so she couldn't get a visa to come to the States to visit me. I can only fly back to see her. And we would talk on the phone all the time. We would try to be in touch, and I would fly back whenever it was possible. But it was during those times away that I go. God, I don't think I can live without her. In two years into our dating, into our relationship, I. Oh.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
The amount of whatever our female audience is right now, there's a collective thousands of women saying, oh, yeah.
David Spade
Are you ready to optimize your nutrition, Dana?
Dana Carvey
Yes. Yes. I'm going to say yes.
David Spade
I got factor. It has chef made gourmet meals that make eating well easy. They're dietitian approved, ready to heat and eat in two minutes. That's quick.
Dana Carvey
That's quick.
David Spade
Yeah, you can fuel right away. You feel great. No matter what life throws at you, it arrives fresh, fully prepared. Perfect for an active, busy guy like Dana.
Dana Carvey
Yeah, you know, I've heard is you lose up to eight pounds in eight weeks with Factor Keto meals based on a randomized controlled clinical trial with Factor Keto. Results will vary of course, depending on diet and exercise.
David Spade
Of course.
Dana Carvey
Of course.
David Spade
40 options across eight dietary preferences on the menu each week. Easy to pick meals tailored to your goals. Choose from preferences like Calorie Smart, more protein keto, you know, all that stuff.
Dana Carvey
Factor can help you feel your best all day long, which is a good thing with wholesome smoothies, breakfast grab and go snacks, and more add ons.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
David yeah.
David Spade
Reach your goals this year with ingredients you can trust. Convenience you can't beat. Eat smart with Factor get started@Factor Meals.com Fly 50 off that's Fly 50 off. Get 50% off your first box plus free shipping.
Dana Carvey
That's code Fly50OFF@FactorMills.com Fly 50 off to get 50 off plus free shipping on your first box.
David Spade
Okay, today's episode Dana sponsored by Acorns. Acorns makes it easy. Easy to start automatically saving and investing so your money is a chance to grow for you, for your kids, for your retirement. You don't need to be an expert. Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio that fits you and your money goals. You don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you invest with the spare money you've got right now. You can start with $5 or even just spare change.
Dana Carvey
You don't need a ton of time. You can create your Acorns account and start investing in just five minutes. You don't need to feel like financial wellness is impossible. Acorn gives you small, simple steps.
David Spade
Easy.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
You and your money.
David Spade
Well, listen, it's always good to put something away. It's always good to start somewhere because in a month from now you didn't do it. You could have started a month ago and everything's already starting to grow a little bit. It's very important to get on this stuff early on and it's simple enough. Takes five minutes and you're there. You know, had acorns.com/fly or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today. Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns tier one compensation provided investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. View important disclosures@acorns.com fly. You know, when I'm on the road Dana, I'm always. I'm always pretty much staying in hotels, but there's been a shift to Airbnb, and you hear about it all the time.
Dana Carvey
Hotels are fine. There can be great. But Airbnb is a great alternative, you know, because you get a lot of choices of where you can stay. Oh, yeah, it's very practical.
David Spade
I mean, hotel can be like, oh, like, when I go on the road, I go, that one's the closest hotel is a half hour from the gig or something. But you say, oh, Airbnb just go, oh, I want to go a little closer. I want to be in this area. I want a swimming pool, and I want this.
Dana Carvey
Yes. And I famously have said many times, a place we used to go, my wife and I, to get away, and we stayed at some really nice hotels, but then we found this Airbnb, which we used, I think, three times.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
There's always spotless.
Dana Carvey
The keys are outside in a little padlock, and they used to have a bottle of wine and a note, and you have a kitchen, and it was very, very nice. The benefits of Airbnb is that space, privacy, better locations compared to hotels. You get to pick how close you want to be to wherever you want.
David Spade
You're traveling with family, your friends. You're on your own. It's. It's great.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
It's just such a great story. I guess, as we go forward here, I want to unpack this movie, because I think that's what's currently right in front of you. And just how did that come about? Did they. What was the phone call like, and what did it mean at that moment? Did your wife pick up the phone? I'll get him. Just a moment.
David
It was right during the award season, right before the Oscars. I think the Oscar nomination came out. And then my agent called me, says, there's a script that came in for you. They will. We would like to offer you the lead.
David Spade
Can you read it for the lead? Wow.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
After 19 years.
David
After 19 years. It was. It was. It was the first time I've heard it. It was. It was the first time I heard it.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Those words.
David
Those words. Alfia lead is from 87 north, from David Leach and Kelly McCormick. Now, David Leach is a big director, big producer. So is Kelly. So I read it right away, and as I was reading it, I loved it. But then I was, like, kind of confused because I just don't see myself in this role. I see, you know, actors like, you know, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, pretty much. Pretty much all your typical actors Exactly. Except me. I just didn't see it. And so I call my agent the next day. I said, it's a great script, but I think they got the wrong person. So let's just pass very quickly without thinking much about it. And then I was busy doing, you know, interviews and attending award season. And then it was after I won the Oscar, they came back the second time and they said, can you please reconsider? And at that time, I was mentally exhausted. I was just like, I had just gone through this six month of award season. I was mentally exhausted, but I did remember the script. And I said, it's a great script, but then it's still a pass for me.
David Spade
What?
David
What passed in the second time?
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Gee, come on.
David
And it was a time where. It was at a time where, like, what was incredible was like people were calling and I was getting. And then all of a sudden I got really scared. One, because I've never been in a situation where people offer me roles without any audition. And second, there has been so much love and support that I was so afraid that whatever I was going to do next, I was going to disappoint them. And that was the last thing I wanted to do. And I was at an event with Steven Spielberg and we were chatting, and he says, key, how are you doing? And I said, I'm not doing so good, Steven. He says, why? And I said, well, I'm having trouble deciding what to do next because, you know, of the success of everything, everywhere, all at once, I'm really nervous. And he says, okay, don't worry about it. Let's grab lunch when we get back to la. And we did, and we were doing lunch that I pitch him the story and I said, this is Universal Studios Picture. It's theatrical release. And I told him the story and I told him my reservation and he stopped him. He says, key, let me tell you, it's great. You should do it. And I go, huh? Don't think much, just do it. It's going to turn out great and you're going to love it and it's going to put you in the leading man category. And again, he also gave me a lot of advice, too. Like, if you believe in it yourself, if you do it with all your heart and passion, the audience will appreciate you for it, whether they like the movie or not. Left that lunch and asked my agent to set up a meeting. And I went in. I met with the entire producing team and also our director, Jojo Eusepio, who is a veteran with Action. And it Was at that time I realized, wow, all these years I've been conditioned that guys that look like me cannot be an action hero. And they were also trying to do something different. They were trying to change the status quo and to create a new kind of action hero. And immediately I fell in love with it. And I said yes right away, got myself trained, and it was. I gotta say, it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Well, when you see the playbacks, I don't know, online, or when you first started to see it work, you know, because in the trailer, you can really see that you totally believe your character just has this skill set, you know, And I think the one that seems a little bit familiar in the abstract is Bob Oderkirk doing nobody. He was very, very surprised that he was tapped to be an action star, you know, but it makes sense to me. I think it is kind of cool that you're not really built up and stuff, but you just have speed and coordination or agility and smarts without win a street fight in a kitchen or whatever with anything at your disposal, you.
David
Know, And I love. I love watching movies where, you know, there is that element of surprise, you know, like if you go watch a movie and the rock beats up 10 guys. Yeah, of course. I mean, you know, but there's something special about watching someone like me or, you know, or. Or you. I like. You know, I've seen both of your work, you know, where you. You kick ass and go, wow, that's. That's. It's so nice to see that. Something different.
David Spade
Yeah.
David
And. And, you know, it's that element of.
David Spade
Surprise also that you can literally do it. I mean, it's very lucky that you get a guy that you can play it and you can act. And they're like, the benefit is also, you don't need to be covered in stunts on every single fight. They're like, this guy can do a lot of it. And that's such a benefit. Helps the movie, helps everybody.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
And did they know. Did they know you had a black belt in Taekwondo? They must have looked that up.
David
Yes, they did. Yes, they did. They knew. They knew exactly what I was capable of. And even going in, I did tell them and I said, if I'm going to do this, can you let me do all the fights myself? And they said yes. But of course, that was a big statement for me because I was. I was great when I was 21 years old.
David Spade
Yeah.
David
He wants to put me in an action movie. And now, you know, I'm 54. So I did, you know, I trained with the guys. I had. We had the best action team. We trained for three months getting myself ready. And, you know, and it's everything that I know about making action movie, I put into this. It's not easy. And you get hurt. You know, Jackie Chan, when he does those action movies, he gets hurt all the time. And in order for a fight to look real, you can't fake it. You have to. The way I know it is, you know, you really have to go at it. And I went at it with Daniel Wu in the finale. I went at it with Michonne lynch. And it was really tough. And every single day, I would go back to my apartment and I would soak myself in salt bath. You know, in a salt bath, peanut butter for an hour. I was bruised everywhere. And halfway through the movie, I told my wife, I said, you know, I don't think I can do another one. This is it. And then we saw the movie, and I go. I called my agent. I said, come on, let me. Let's get another one. I can't wait to do it again.
David Spade
Well, it's like surgery once it's over.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Did you ever get so excited in a fight scene that you kind of did some damage and then found yourself saying, take that, bitch. Like, yelling at the actor? Did you ever lose it?
David Spade
No.
David
No. I never get. I never get joy from hurting.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Okay, I'm kidding.
David
I always make sure. And sometimes accidents do happen, and every time I hit somebody accidentally, my heart just drops. But we have a lot of tough guys. Our stunt guys are really tough. You know, they. I can. I can kick him all I want. I don't think I would do much damage. They're built for it.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David Spade
I'm gonna give you a compliment. K real quick.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Here we go. He never gives compliments. Oh, wow.
David
The day. I'm so excited. Okay, I can't wait to hear it.
David Spade
I'm watching your trailer this morning for Love Hurts, which comes out in theaters, right.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
February 7th theaters.
David Spade
So I stop it about a third of the way through, and I like it. I go. I don't want to know anymore because I want to go see it. I want to just go watch it happen. I don't want to guess ahead. Right when I'm hooked in, I go, okay. It's right when you're doing their cookies. And then Marshawn comes in and I go, okay, I like it. Stop. Because I don't want to know one extra interesting thing. I just want to Go see it all.
David
Oh, wow, David, thank you. I'm so touched. Thank you so much for that.
David Spade
But that's a good trailer. That shows you. It's like, that's a fun movie.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I watched the whole trailer. I watched the whole trailer. It's not a competition, David. I watched the whole thing and I clicked it and I said, that movie is going to do great. That was my blink on it. And I'm just saying it, and we don't say it to everyone on here. The movie, but that is just going to be one of those movies you want to see. You know, that's not your typical in the theater, David.
David
Dana, you just made my month. Getting. Getting that compliment from both of you means the world to me. And knowing that you guys gonna go watch it in theater is even more incredible. Thank you.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Well, after it hits 100 million, just pop. We have another podcast called Superfly. You could pop in for five minutes.
David
Yeah.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I'll tell you, with it, with your wife, we'll say, has he gotten cocky? Finally, I'm gonna beat Dana.
David Spade
I'm gonna say, I only saw four seconds of the trailer. I'm going backwards now. I only saw two seconds of the trailer, and I can name that hit in two seconds. No, I just like the vibe of it. I like you. I think people are coming off of the last one saying, interesting, and it's a fun story. And you're very sweet, charming, humble guy and just like, hey, it's not the Rock. And most of those movies are the Rock.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I love John. I love John Wick, and I love a lot this genre, but this is new, and it felt new. It just happened.
David
I grew up watching movies in the 80s where, you know, they're like 90 minutes long and. And you go in and you just enjoy it. And it kind of. It kind of, you know, takes your. You know, lets you escape reality for a little bit. You come out of it feeling a little bit refreshed. So this movie was made for. That one was made for, you know, the audience who love the action genre. And it's kind of an homage to. To those Hong Kong 80s action movie. And. And hopefully, yeah, people can just go on a date or with their friends and just have a really good time.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yes. And the. The job of that film is somewhere in the third act to make you suspend that disbelief that maybe the hero won't make it. You know, maybe he's gonna lose this time. And that's the fun of how that's written and how that's made you Know, that's just the fun of the genre. What you don't see coming and how he wins the day. If he wins the day.
David Spade
If he wins a day, we don't know. And I like any excuse to go to the movies again because I don't go enough. And it's. You need one to go, oh, let me get out there again. I want to go see a movie out.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah, Just.
Dana Carvey
It's.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
You don't have to think. You just sit there and enjoy the ride. Those are just really, really fun movies. The one thing I just wanted to mention was your Oscar acceptance speech. Just that it's kind of gone up there, the hall of fame. I don't know if you probably answered every question about it, and we kind of know you now a little bit and what it. What it meant, of course, but it really stood out that night in the Oscars. You know, it was like, wow, he's back.
David
You know, it was. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I didn't. You know, it was. It was a night. It was a moment that I dreamt about, I fantasize about for 40 years. Didn't whatever ever happen? I remember when. When. When Ariana DeBose and Troy Kutzer walked out with the envelope, and I'm in my seat and it feels like you're not breathing. You're just holding your breath. And I felt like I was holding my breath for. Not for that night, but for the entire six months since the award season started.
David Spade
Forty years. Yeah.
David
For 40 years. Yeah. And you really don't know until they open the envelope. And when she opened the envelope and announced my name with so much emotion, I heard it and I couldn't believe it. I wanted to. Like, it's one of those where. Wait, did she say my name? Like, did she say my name? Like, is this real? And once when I realized that it was, you know, this was reality, I fought really hard to fight back. The emotions. It felt like all those emotions that I've had building up in the last 20 years, stepping away and just hoping, Just hoping that someone would give me a chance just came flooding out.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Wow. I hear the emotion in your voice. You know, I just wondered because it's success and things like this, you know, in terms of your relationship with your wife after you won the Oscar, was she sort of more wanting to be more frisky with you, more affectionate when she drank all over you? I'm just kidding. She's. She's making love with an Austin Oscar Wilde. It's got to be different.
David
What?
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Just kidding.
David Spade
He goes, just kidding.
David
I remember. I remember I woke up the next day thinking this was all a dream. I woke up next to her and we and we looked at each other for a long beat. It was the morning after and I'm thinking, wait, was that all a dream? I looked at her and I said, honey, did yesterday happen? And she smiled and she says, honey, you are an Oscar winning actor.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
And was she holding the Oscar in her arms? We did it.
David Spade
Honey, do we leave the Oscar at in and out? Well, thank you for coming on, bud. What a great story. Top yeah, really, really interesting having you.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Yeah.
David
David, Dana, thank you so much. I love you guys. I mean, seriously, I love you guys and this has been such a wonderful chat. Thank you.
David Spade
Thank you, buddy.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
I look forward to the movie and.
David
Yes, yes, please watch it. And to all your listeners, please don't watch it and support our movie in the theaters. It would mean the world to me.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Love hurts. Love hurts. Love hurts. Love hurts. February 7th February 7th.
David Spade
All right, see you, buddy. Nice to meet you.
David
Thank you.
Kiwi Kwan Qi
Take care. Enjoy.
David Spade
This has been a presentation of Odyssey. Please follow, subscribe Leave a Like a review all the stuff. Smash that button, whatever it is, wherever you get your podcasts. Fly on the Wall is executive produced by Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jenna Weiss Berman of Odyssey and Heather Santoro. The show's lead producer is Greg Holtzman.
Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade: Episode Featuring Ke Huy Quan Release Date: February 12, 2025
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade, longtime friends and comedic powerhouses Dana Carvey and David Spade sit down with acclaimed actor Ke Huy Quan. The conversation delves deep into Quan’s remarkable journey in Hollywood, from his early breakout roles in iconic films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies, to his recent resurgence with award-winning performances and his latest project, Love Hurts.
The discussion kicks off with Dana introducing Ke Huy Quan and highlighting his early success in Hollywood. Quan reflects on his introduction to acting and how pivotal roles shaped his career.
Dana Carvey [01:08]: "Our guest today is Ke Huy Quan, who has an amazing story. He was just in school in LA when he landed a role in Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom, followed by a stint in The Goonies. His journey took a dramatic turn from there."
Ke Huy Quan [01:36]: "It's a very complicated story, very much a hard luck story like many others in Hollywood, but with a happy ending."
Quan recounts how his family's immigration from Vietnam and his early life in Los Angeles played a crucial role in his entry into acting. Without prior experience, his casting in Indiana Jones changed his family's fortunes dramatically.
An essential part of Quan’s story is the financial stability he gained from residuals from his early roles, which had a profound impact on his large family.
Quan [15:26]: "Indiana Jones was the biggest movie in 1984, and they made me a profit participant without me even asking. That first check allowed my family to afford a bigger house and lifted us out of financial strain."
David Spade [16:15]: "Only it changed my life, but it changed all of my family's life."
This financial boost came at a time when his parents had sacrificed everything to bring their nine children to the United States, leaving them heavily in debt. Quan emphasizes the generosity of the filmmakers, which provided not just monetary relief but also a sense of hope for his family’s future.
Despite early success, Quan faced significant challenges in maintaining his career momentum. The conversation touches on the struggles of finding acting roles and staying relevant in the competitive industry.
Ke Huy Quan [29:16]: "I went through a range of emotions—frustration, confusion, sadness. It was hard, and I feared disappointing those who believed in me, especially my wife."
David Spade [32:05]: "It was hard not to feel bitter, but Quan remained humble and never blamed the system or others. Instead, he focused on self-improvement."
Quan credits his resilience to the unwavering support of his wife, who believed in his potential even when opportunities seemed scarce. This support system was pivotal in helping him navigate the long periods without significant roles.
Quan’s passion for martial arts and action films is a central theme as he discusses his training in Taekwondo and his role in the upcoming action film Love Hurts.
Ke Huy Quan [24:47]: "I studied Taekwondo after Temple of Doom and earned a black belt. This training was instrumental in preparing me for my role in Love Hurts."
Quan [26:19]: "Fighting scenes are demanding, both physically and mentally. I trained rigorously to perform my own fight sequences, ensuring authenticity and safety."
The hosts engage with Quan about the challenges and rewards of performing his own fight scenes, highlighting his dedication to his craft and the physical toll it takes.
Quan opens up about his personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife, who has been his steadfast supporter throughout his career.
Ke Huy Quan [35:02]: "We met while working on projects in Shanghai. From day one, we had endless conversations and quickly realized we couldn't live without each other."
Quan [35:24]: "My wife is my lucky charm. Her belief in me kept me going during the toughest times."
Dana and David commend Quan’s humility and the strength of his relationship, emphasizing how his personal life has been a cornerstone of his professional resilience.
A pinnacle moment in Quan’s career came with his Oscar win, which marked a significant comeback after decades of perseverance.
Ke Huy Quan [53:21]: "Winning the Oscar was surreal. I had dreamed about this moment for forty years, and when it finally happened, it felt like a flood of emotions—the culmination of all my struggles and hopes."
Quan [54:42]: "Hearing my name announced felt like stepping into a dream. My wife and I woke up the next day still in disbelief."
Quan reflects on the emotional weight of the victory and its profound meaning not just for him but also for his family and the representation of Asian actors in Hollywood.
The conversation concludes with excitement about Quan’s latest project, Love Hurts, which blends action and heartfelt storytelling.
Ke Huy Quan [41:09]: "During award season, after winning the Oscar, my agent approached me with the script for Love Hurts. Initially hesitant, I met with Steven Spielberg, who encouraged me to take the role, emphasizing its potential to redefine action heroes."
Dana Carvey [50:21]: "The trailer for Love Hurts is fantastic. It’s refreshing to see a new kind of action hero who relies on speed, coordination, and intelligence."
Quan shares insights into the making of the film, his approach to performing action scenes, and his excitement for audiences to experience the movie.
Throughout the episode, Quan emphasizes the importance of perseverance, humility, and the support of loved ones in achieving success.
Ke Huy Quan [33:15]: "I always differentiate between envy and jealousy. Envy pushes me to keep improving, while jealousy drags you down. Staying humble and grateful has been key to my journey."
Quan [34:20]: "Having someone who believes in you, like my wife, is invaluable. It’s crucial to have a support system that uplifts you during challenging times."
Dana and David admire Quan’s outlook and resilience, offering listeners a powerful message about overcoming adversity and staying true to oneself.
This episode of Fly on the Wall is a compelling narrative of Ke Huy Quan’s journey in Hollywood, underscored by themes of resilience, gratitude, and the transformative power of support. Quan’s candid reflections provide valuable insights into the struggles and triumphs of maintaining a career in the competitive world of entertainment. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and anyone facing long-term challenges, illustrating that with perseverance and the right support, success is attainable.
Notable Quotes:
Upcoming Movie:
Listeners are encouraged to support Ke Huy Quan by watching Love Hurts in theaters and witnessing firsthand the culmination of his decades-long journey in the film industry.