Ten years ago, Chris Pratt was a virtually unknown actor. Today, you can't go to a theater without spotting a poster for the next major blockbuster he's set to star in. Pratt began acting in 2000, getting small roles until he was cast as a regular in a drama series. Though he continued to gain random roles, his popularity began to drastically rise while playing Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation in 2009.
Not long after that, he was elevated to an action star, being offered lead roles in the Marvel and Jurassic Park franchises—but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Here are all the roles Chris Pratt has had that are too good to forget.
Everwood
Pratt’s early career kicked off with a leading role in the drama series Everwood, which aired on The WB from 2002 to 2006. The show focused on a brain surgeon, Andy, who moves to a small town in Colorado with his two kids after the death of his wife.
Pratt played a character named Bright Abbott during all four seasons. He is the son of the only doctor in the town that Andy moves to. Yes, Pratt was just as charismatic back in the day.
Bride Wars
Bride Wars tells the story of two best friends who attempt to sabotage each other’s weddings after they accidentally get scheduled on the same day. While Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway play the leading ladies, Pratt takes on the role of Hathaway's fiancé.
Contrasting the charm of Hathaway's Emma Allan, Pratt’s Fletcher Flemson is controlling and totally not the guy you’d want to be marrying. It’s proof that Pratt is able to push beyond the funny, nice guy roles he tends to take on.
Zero Dark Thirty
This patriotic thriller film saw Chris Pratt taking on the role of a DEVGRU operator named Justin in the U.S. Navy. Though it is not outrightly stated, it is possible that his character was based on the real-life operator Robert O’Neil.
The 2012 film dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks. Being that Pratt was better known as a comedy guy at the time, taking on the role meant he had to take on a more serious persona.
Moneyball
The 2011 sports film Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman made sure to save a spot for Pratt. He took on the guest role of Scott Hatteberg, who becomes the baseball team's first baseman.
While Pratt was at first nervous about taking on the role of a real baseball player, his nerves eased when he met Hatteberg in real life, and the two hit it off instantaneously. This helped Pratt bring his A-game to the field and the film.
Passengers
Pratt plays the hero of the romantic space drama Passengers. Though his character comes off as kind of a stalker, it’s hard to forget the magnetic chemistry between him and co-star Jennifer Lawrence. It’s also difficult to ignore the genuineness Pratt brought to the role.
Did we mention that Pratt and Lawrence were the only two humans present throughout most of the film? Carrying that much screen time takes a lot of work.
The Magnificent Seven
This 2016 action film saw stars like Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, and, of course, Chris Pratt teaming together to tackle the wild west. Being that this film was a remake of the 1960 movie of the same name, Pratt plays a character name Joshua Faraday who is reminiscent of the original Harry Luck. His character is a gambler known for his card tricks and explosives. Spoiler alert: the latter of his interests may or may not come back to haunt him.
The Lego Movie
Pratt starred as the naive but good-natured Emmet in The Lego Movie and The Lego Movie 2. His animated character is a construction worker who is mistaken for the prophesied “Special.” Unfortunately for Emmet, he more closely fits the definition of “normal.”
Pratt hilariously takes on a second role in the sequel as a character named Rex who is a “galaxy-defender, archaeologist, cowboy, and raptor trainer.” Rex is a nod to all of Pratt’s most iconic roles. His self-description also shouts out the rumor that Pratt would portray Indiana Jones in the future.
Jurassic World
Watch out, dino world! Chris Pratt is here to keep things under control.
Pratt played a character named Owen Grady in the 2015 Jurassic Park sequel that came several years after the first three films. His character, alongside that of Bryce Dallas Howard, go through one wild adventure after the giant creatures in the dinosaur theme park located on Isla Nublar escape.
Pratt also led the Jurassic World: Fall Kingdom sequel and is set to star in another series installment in 2021.
Parks and Recreation
Pratt’s breakout role occurred on a little Emmy-nominated sitcom about a local government in Indiana known as Parks and Recreation. The actor at first played the guest role of Ann’s lazy and goofy ex-boyfriend, Andy Dwyer, on the show. However, the producers like him so much that they decided to make him a regular cast member beginning in Season 2.
Andy eventually marries April Ludgate, becomes Leslie’s assistant, and gets a show on TV known as The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show. All this goes to say, Parks and Rec would not have been the same without Pratt.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Pratt upgraded from a TV actor to a movie star with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. This Marvel film had Pratt portraying the half-human, half-alien Guardian captain Peter Quill aka Star-Lord.
Pratt had to lose 60 pounds in six months to take on the role, but the film's creators loved him so much that they gave him a shot. Pratt signed a multi-movie contract and has also appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. He will once again reprise his role as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.