Chris Pratt brings the laughs on “Parks and Recreation” (and as Star-Lord in “GOTG”), but this weekend, he brought the tears.
In an emotional speech at March of Dimes Celebration of Babies, the actor opened up about his and wife Anna Faris’ son’s scary premature birth – the baby was born nine weeks early and weighed in at 3 pounds, 12 ounces.
“That’s a decent-sized bass,” Chris told the Beverly Hills crowd of son Jack’s birth weight, according to Variety. “Very small for a human.”
The new parents were told Jack may have special needs due to his premature arrival, and that he would need corrective surgery on his eyes.
“Welcome to the club, kid,” Chris joked, adding that they were able to take Jack home after a month in the NICU. “Our Jack went from a small, helpless little squirt to a strong, smart, happy, funny, beautiful boy who loves monster trucks and ‘Daniel Tiger,’ and, believe it or not, loves vegetables.
“Broccoli and cherry tomatoes are his favorite foods,” he added.
Though he’s now part of both a successful TV series and a huge big screen Marvel hit, Chris said becoming a father trumps everything he’s experienced so far.
“I’ve done all kinds of cool things as an actor: I’ve jumped out of helicopters and done some daring stunts and played baseball in a professional stadium, but none of it means anything compared to being somebody’s daddy,” he said.
The actor said he asked for divine intervention as their son struggled in the NICU.
“I made promises in that moment about what kind of dad I wanted to be and I just prayed that he’d live long enough that I could keep them,” he said.
Chris and Anna tied the knot in 2009, and welcomed Jack in August 2012.
— Erin O’Sullivan
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