An American Story
Everyone’s Invited
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A love letter to America from the pen of actor, producer, immigrant, and activist Wilmer Valderrama.
In this timely memoir, Valderrama looks back on his journey from a tiny pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles—how he discovered his calling as an actor and later as a USO Global Ambassador, found work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor, and used his determination and success to build a new life for himself, his family, and many others.
Raised by two hard working parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Venezuela's controversial former leader Hugo Chavez, Valderrama delves into his family's flight from their home and the challenges of emigrating to the United States.
After being cast in a school theatre production, Valderrama knew he had found his calling and began thinking of ways to help support his struggling family. He would attempt the impossible: find work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor. Following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, he created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on That 70s Show.
It catapulted him to stardom.
Over the coming years, he would create the smash show, Yo Mamma, voice the lead character in Disney's Encanto, and eventually join the cast of NCIS. But it was through service to others and his first USO trip where Valderrama found his further calling—entertaining and encouraging U.S. troops around the world.
The saga of a determined soul, An American Story: Everyone's Invited is an exploration of America through the eyes of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and the resolve to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.
"This is my way of showing my love, my gratitude to the country that changed my whole life."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this affable debut, That '70s Show actor Valderrama details his family's migration from Venezuela to the U.S. and the beginnings of his career. Born to immigrant parents in 1980 Miami—his mother was Colombian, his father Venezuelan—Valderrama decamped to Venezuela with his family when he was three. Soon after they arrived, Hugo Chavez rose to power, and the country began its economic decline: "Each night came another report about soaring inflation, about another murder in the capital, about drugs and guns and gangs and violence." After the author turned 13, his parents returned to the U.S., landing in Southern California, where Valderrama worked as a busboy while harboring dreams of stardom. As a teenager, he auditioned for films and sitcoms, and grew frustrated that his accent kept him from booking roles, most of which were "kid who spoke perfect English." That very accent, however, landed him the role of exchange student Fez on That '70s Show, which jump-started his career. In chatty prose, Valderrama recounts his family's hardships ("That old clunker of a Mazda was the only thing keeping us afloat," he laments when his father's car is stolen in California), and offers flattering sketches of costars including Ashton Kutcher and Tom Hanks. It's a winning self-portrait.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
Even though it is in many ways another immigrant success story, the personal character of Wilmer as an individual makes this book a wonderful book to read.