Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan says he's worried his comeback is a 'one-time thing'

Ke Huy Quan, 51, has inspired many worldwide to chase their dreams after making a huge comeback decades later. Photo: AP

The comeback story of American actor Ke Huy Quan who went from spending a year in a refugee camp to becoming an Oscar winner has inspired many worldwide to chase their dreams.

On Sunday (March 12), Quan took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Waymond Wang in the critically acclaimed film, Everything Everywhere All At Once – his first major role in 30 years.

Despite making such a successful comeback, the 51-year-old admitted that he was worried his newfound success would be short-lived and that he would end up in the shadows once more.

"Everything is still so fresh in my mind. And that’s why moving forward, I'm still really scared. Even though I just won an Oscar, I'm still really fearful of what tomorrow brings," he told Variety.

Quan made his acting debut at age 12 in the 1984 blockbuster, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom. He nabbed another role on the big screen that following year with the action-adventure film, The Goonies.

The casting calls stopped after that, and he went on to build a career behind the cameras as a stunt coordinator. That is, until now.

"I had a conversation with my agent and I said, 'I'm so worried that this is only a one-time thing'. I've been down this road before and I'm so afraid that history is going to repeat itself.

"I said, 'Please, whatever you do, please make sure that does not happen'," Quan said of his recent success.

According to Variety, the actor suffered through countless failed auditions for 30 years. He later developed projects for director Wong Kar Wai at his production company, Jet Tone Films, where he met his wife, Echo.

"Every month for the past 20 years, she'd tell me, 'Trust me, your time will come'. At times, I was frustrated with her. I told her, 'You keep saying that, and it's never going to happen.'

"I didn't believe it. 20 years isn't a short time," he explained.

At the moment, Quan revealed that he will be making the most of his newfound success.

He currently has three completed projects: action-comedy series American Born Chinese, second season of Loki and a sci-fi movie called The Electric State.