In a surprising turn of events, Ke Huy Quan has stepped into a leading role after a long journey in Hollywood.  This is a big deal because he has been in the industry for nearly 40 years.  This time, he is not playing a sidekick or a secondary character.  He is the main attraction.

Quan's new film, "Love Hurts, " is out now.  It is an action-comedy about a real estate agent named Marvin Gable.  Marvin is a seemingly nice guy from Milwaukee.  But his past catches up with him when his former partner, Rose, shows up.  Rose is played by Ariana DeBose and she wants revenge.  Marvin used to work for his brother, Knuckles, a mob boss played by Daniel Wu.  Marvin was supposed to kill Rose, but he couldn't do it because of his love for her.  Now, Rose is back and everything goes crazy.  Knuckles wants Marvin dead.

Quan’s role in "Love Hurts" is part of his second act in Hollywood.  His first act was in the 1980s, where he played major roles in classics like "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "The Goonies. "  After that, things slowed down for him.  He worked behind the scenes as a stunt choreographer and assistant director, often abroad.  Now, he hopes his comeback will inspire other Asian Americans.

Quan’s character in the film is not your typical action hero.  He has some cool martial arts moves, but he also shows a softer side.  This is a big deal because it challenges what we usually see in action movies.  Quan credits his character Waymond from "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the film's directing duo, The Daniels, for this new take on masculinity.  He says that masculinity isn't just about being tough or strong.  It's also about being kind and loving.

Quan’s own ideas about masculinity come from his father, a refugee from Vietnam.  His father brought his family to the United States and never asked for anything in return.  Quan sees his father as a hero and a true man.

Quan's new film comes out just before Valentine's Day.  This got him thinking about love.  He talked about his own love story with his wife, Echo.  They met over two decades ago in Shanghai while working with Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai.  Quan knew she was special the moment he saw her.  They went on their first date that day and have kept up the tradition of dinner and a movie ever since.

Quan’s new movie is a perfect time to think about love.  He says Valentine’s Day is a day to show the people you care about how much you love them.  And for him, that immediately brings to mind his wife, Echo.

Ke Huy Quan: From Action Hero to Real Estate Agent

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