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An American Story: Everyone's Invited
Read by the author.
The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.
An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and USO ambassador Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hardworking parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decided to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy who had loved riding his horse and dreaming of being Zorro from his favorite black-and-white TV show had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles.
As an unproven actor in Hollywood, following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, Valderrama created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That '70s Show, which catapulted him to stardom.
Over the coming years, he would create the smash show Yo Momma, delight kids through Handy Manny, voice a lead character in Disney's Encanto, and so much more, culminating in his joining the cast of the hit show NCIS in 2016.
It was through service to others and his first USO trip, however, that Valderrama found his expanded calling, entertaining and encouraging US troops around the world. He dedicated his time and efforts to giving back in hopes of demonstrating his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life.
An American Story weaves Valderrama's personal stories with those of the remarkable people he's met along his philanthropic journey. This isn't just Valderrama's story, though. It's a view of America through an immigrant's eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all its native challenges. It is the profound and gripping story of someone who found the way and is now inviting as many as possible to join him on the adventure.
The photo insert can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
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An American Story: Everyone's Invited
Read by the author.
The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.
An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and USO ambassador Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hardworking parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decided to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy who had loved riding his horse and dreaming of being Zorro from his favorite black-and-white TV show had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles.
As an unproven actor in Hollywood, following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, Valderrama created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That '70s Show, which catapulted him to stardom.
Over the coming years, he would create the smash show Yo Momma, delight kids through Handy Manny, voice a lead character in Disney's Encanto, and so much more, culminating in his joining the cast of the hit show NCIS in 2016.
It was through service to others and his first USO trip, however, that Valderrama found his expanded calling, entertaining and encouraging US troops around the world. He dedicated his time and efforts to giving back in hopes of demonstrating his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life.
An American Story weaves Valderrama's personal stories with those of the remarkable people he's met along his philanthropic journey. This isn't just Valderrama's story, though. It's a view of America through an immigrant's eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all its native challenges. It is the profound and gripping story of someone who found the way and is now inviting as many as possible to join him on the adventure.
The photo insert can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.
An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and USO ambassador Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hardworking parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decided to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy who had loved riding his horse and dreaming of being Zorro from his favorite black-and-white TV show had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles.
As an unproven actor in Hollywood, following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, Valderrama created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That '70s Show, which catapulted him to stardom.
Over the coming years, he would create the smash show Yo Momma, delight kids through Handy Manny, voice a lead character in Disney's Encanto, and so much more, culminating in his joining the cast of the hit show NCIS in 2016.
It was through service to others and his first USO trip, however, that Valderrama found his expanded calling, entertaining and encouraging US troops around the world. He dedicated his time and efforts to giving back in hopes of demonstrating his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life.
An American Story weaves Valderrama's personal stories with those of the remarkable people he's met along his philanthropic journey. This isn't just Valderrama's story, though. It's a view of America through an immigrant's eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all its native challenges. It is the profound and gripping story of someone who found the way and is now inviting as many as possible to join him on the adventure.
The photo insert can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
2024-07-10 A respected actor/social activist reflects on how being the American-born son of two South American immigrants has influenced his life and career.
Born in Miami, Valderrama was 3 when his family moved to Venezuela. He spent time riding his horse, watching TV, and dreaming he was Zorro while his father worked the farm he had bought. After Hugo Chavez came to power several years later, Valderrama’s family fled to Los Angeles. "You'll need to learn English," the father warns his son, who was flunking that subject in school. In LA, his parents struggled financially while the author faced the daunting task of learning a new language as he navigated school, a part-time job, and an environment that sometimes judged immigrants unfairly. Yet these difficulties only made him more determined to succeed and to assist his parents. A straight-A student by high school, Valderrama poured his energies into acting and began auditioning for commercials and television bit parts. His junior year he unexpectedly landed the part of the foreign exchange student Fez onThat 70s Show, a role that fueled his steady rise to fame and helped him support the family he loved. Yet even as Valderrama lived professional dreams of developing successful TV shows likeYo Momma andZorro and starring in successful films likeFast Food Nation andLarry Crowne, he found himself equally drawn to activism in support of causes that empowered the Latinx community and that “creat[ed] a national celebration of democracy.” Recapping Valderrama’s star-studded accomplishments, this book is no different from other celebrity memoirs. Its greater interest lies in his presentation of his life as a demonstration of the fact that America’s greatest strength lies in its diversity and in the immigrants it at times underestimates or undervalues.
