Comeback kids: Child stars who made brilliant comebacks

Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford had the sweetest reunion onstage at 2023 Oscars

Stars Insider

13/03/23 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Acting

The future of a child actor is always uncertain. Life in showbusiness is notoriously demanding, and some kids who find fame at an early age do everything possible to leave the industry as soon as they can. Others maintain a consistent level of fame for the rest of their lives, while others still fall out of the spotlight just to make a new name for themselves later on in life. These comebacks are always joyous to witness, and exhibit the tenacity of so many performance professionals.

Ke Huy Quan is the best example, as after years of being out of the spotlight due to a lack of substantial roles for Asian actors, he made a triumphant return in 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' which swept at the awards and earned him his first ever Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The film also picked up six other awards, including acting awards for Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and Film Editing. In Quan's tearful acceptance speech, he said, “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage.” He continued, “They say stories like this only happen the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This—this is the American dream!”

And the sweetest full-circle moment capped off this historic occasion as Quan's 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (1984) co-star Harrison Ford was there onstage as they won Best Picture. An excited Quan jumped up and down as he approached Ford, and the two shared an enthusiastic embrace that highlighted just how impressive this comeback has been. 

Read on to learn about some of the greatest comeback stories from some of entertainment's greatest child actors.

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