Ke Huy Quan Says He Honored His Mom By Reclaiming Birth Name As An Adult Actor; Declares “Goonies Never Say Die” – Oscars Backstage - Deadline

Backstage at the Oscars, speaking to the press following his win for Best Supporting Actor in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Ke Huy Quan recalled how it felt to change his name back from an Americanized one suggested to him by a manager long ago.

“And then I remember, when it got really tough, my manager told me, ‘Maybe it would be easier if you were to have an American-sounding name.’ And I was so desperate for a job that I would do anything.

But when Quan decided to return to acting three years ago after a long fallow period in which he could not find any work, he determinedly used his real name.

“Tonight to see Ariana [DeBose] open that envelope and say, ‘Ke Huy Quan,’ that was a really, really special moment for me.

He starred as a wacky invention geek named Data in the much-loved 1985 film.

I was talking to Kerri Green, and of course tonight Jeff Cohen, who is my entertainment lawyer [and played Chunk in the film], is here with me.