Chris Pratt Named Hasty Pudding’s 2015 Man of the Year

Actor Chris Pratt, known for his roles on NBC’s comedy show “Parks and Recreation” and in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” has been named the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2015 Man of the Year. Pratt will join “Parks and Rec” co-star Amy Poehler, who last week was named the Theatricals’ 2015 Woman of the Year, in being honored by the group.

Actor Chris Pratt is the Hasty Pudding Theatricals' 2015 Man of the Year. By Wikimedia Commons

Pratt plays character Andy Dwyer on “Parks and Rec” and acted in two blockbuster films last year, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Lego Movie.” In addition to his role on the final season of “Parks and Recreation,” Pratt will next star in Universal’s “Jurassic World,” executive produced by Steven Spielberg, in June.

Pratt—who already clinched a spot on GQ’s “Men of the Year” list—will be honored on Feb. 6 with a celebratory roast and “Pudding Pot” award presented by the Theatricals, a musical comedy troupe, in Farkas Hall. He will participate in a press conference after the festivities.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals co-producer Joshua J. Friedman ’16 said the group chose Pratt because he is the star to watch this year.

“We look at who has had big accomplishments over the past year and who’s expected to have a big [upcoming] year,” Friedman said. “Chris Pratt was an obvious choice because he’s so much on the rise this year.”

“Chris Pratt is just such an up-and-coming celebrity. His career is really taking off,” added co-producer Zoe B. Rosenthal ’16.

The Theatricals plan to play up the fact that both 2015’s Man and Woman of the Year star on the same television show, Friedman said. Since the group’s writers are still working on the roasts, Friedman and Rosenthal said the specific ties between events have not yet been decided.

“We’re definitely hoping to link them in terms of the way we roast them, but it won’t be anything too formal,” Friedman said.

The Theatricals are looking forward to hosting Pratt, in addition to honoring him.

“We’re all excited to get to know Chris in an intimate setting,” Rosenthal said.

2014's Man of the Year was "How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris.

—Staff writer Melissa C. Rodman can be reached at melissarodman@college.harvard.edu.