Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00First of all, thank you so, so much to Chris, who I've known for a long time, and Chris is, you know, man, you really are just a genuine, amazing human being, but what people also don't know is that you are, like, one of the great actors.
00:16You really are. It's so true.
00:18One of the great actors. Are you recording this? One of the great actors, Chris Perfetti.
00:27Thank you to Variety. Thank you to the Coalition. I've said this story to a few people before. Some of you might have read it. I think it bears repeating.
00:38My mother was born and was married at an ungodly age, and my father was ungodly young, and they had kids by the age of 18. They had three.
00:52And by the middle of the revolution that happened in 1979 in Iran, one of my brothers was in Chicago dealing with the ramifications of what was happening in Iran and in the States.
01:07My sister was on the streets fighting for justice.
01:12My other brother was fighting in the Iran-Iraq War.
01:16And in the midst of all that, my father was forced into retirement because the crazy fanatics wanted to take over the banks, so my dad had no job.
01:27And in the midst of all that, I was born as this little accident. And I have to say, that experience into itself, to this moment, defines who I am.
01:44We then came to the States after a little stint in Dubai. We came to the States and moved to Chicago because that's where my brother was at.
01:52And we had the typical immigrant life with very little means, very little English, very little opportunities, no one else to guide us or help us, in the midst of a time and period where Iranians were demonized, not that it's gotten any better, but demonized.
02:13And I say all that to say, I am standing here because of faith in something bigger than myself.
02:22There's no reason I should be here. It's a miracle that I'm standing in front of any of you right now.
02:28And so this opportunity to be here, I'm so honored that my artistry and the people at Waterwell and the table here at Motherland are all here because we're trying to use art to move the needle forward to better lives.
02:46That's the only mission that we're here to do. This is all amazing. I love all the accolades and all the stuff we all do.
02:55But none of this matters unless we as artists try to move forward the progress that we need to do.
03:04I always end with these two things. I was told once there's two things that remain on earth, the wars that we fight and the art that we make.
03:18And why wouldn't we use that art to battle those wars?
03:23And the last thing is very name-dropping, but may he rest in peace.
03:28I had the honor of being on Broadway with Robin Williams, and he was a real inspiration and a real mentor to me. He'd be so honored.
03:39And he said to me, the difference between an A-plus actor and a B-plus actor is not talent, it's how you treat people.
03:50And I take that every day. Thank you so much for this, honestly.