Daniel Clifton Pratt, also known as Dan Pratt, was an American miner, contractor, and the father of actor Chris Pratt. Born on October 1, 1953, in Virginia, Minnesota, he spent much of his working life in hands-on jobs. He and his family later made their home in Lake Stevens, Washington. Dan died on June 30, 2014, at age 60, after many years with multiple sclerosis.
In this article, you’ll learn about Dan’s work, his wife and three children, and the kind of father Chris remembers. You’ll also see how his illness changed family life, what Chris has said about losing him, and why a teen center in Washington carries his name.
Who Was Daniel Clifton Pratt?
Dan was not an actor or a public figure. Most people came to know his name through Chris, who became a star in Parks and Recreation, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Jurassic World.
But Dan had a full life before his son’s fame. He worked in mines, took on building jobs, and helped raise three children. He could fix things and solve problems.
Chris has described his dad as funny, tough, and quick to think on his feet. He has also been open about the harder parts of their bond.
A Working Life That Took the Family Across States
Daniel Clifton Pratt was born in northern Minnesota, where mining was an important part of local life. He later worked in taconite mines. Taconite is a type of rock that holds iron. Workers process it to make iron ore pellets used in steel production.
His work did not keep the family in one place. Dan took mining work in Alaska, and the family lived there before moving to Washington. Chris was still a child during those moves.
From Mining to Construction
In Washington, Dan worked as a contractor and remodeled homes. This meant repairing, building, and changing parts of houses for clients.
Chris recalls his father as a man who was good with machines and tools. Daniel Clifton Pratt did not need to have done a job before to feel he could learn it. He would try to work out how something ran and get to work.
Chris has spoken about money being tight when he was young. The family even lost its house while he was in high school. That loss came well before his life in Hollywood.
Making a Home in Lake Stevens
The Pratts settled in Lake Stevens, a city in Washington state. Chris went to school there and played sports. The town became the place he thought of as home, even after he moved away to pursue acting.
Daniel Clifton Pratt also spent time with local kids through sports. Chris later recalled that his father coached him and many other young people in Lake Stevens.
His Wife, Kathy, and Their Three Children
Daniel Clifton Pratt’s wife was Kathleen Louise Indahl, known as Kathy Pratt. She worked for many years at Safeway, a grocery store chain. Her job helped support the family as Dan moved through different types of work.
They had three children. Their oldest daughter is Angie Pratt. Their older son is Daniel Cullen Pratt, known as Cully. Their youngest child is Christopher Michael Pratt, known to movie fans as Chris.
Chris and Cully were close as boys. They wrestled, played sports, and pushed each other to be better. Chris has said that his brother helped him grow as a person and encouraged him to try acting.
There were moves, money worries, and, later, Dan’s health problems. Still, Chris has often spoken with love about his brother, sister, and mother, as well as his late father.
The Father Chris Pratt Remembers
Daniel Clifton Pratt was an old-school dad. He expected his children to be tough, to work hard, and to deal with problems. Chris remembers him as smart and funny, but also strict and, at times, hard to please.
Their bond was not simple. Chris was a sensitive kid, while Dan had a firm idea of how a boy should act. Chris has said that his father’s tough approach could hurt, even when it taught him how to stand up for himself.
There was warmth in the relationship too. Dan came to Chris’s football games and spent time coaching youth sports. Chris has wondered if his dad thought strict rules would help the children face a hard world. That approach was not always easy for them.
In a 2015 interview with GQ, Chris talked about both the strength he learned from his dad and the pain that came with it. He did not turn Dan into a perfect father. Instead, he spoke about a real person he loved, even when they struggled to understand each other.
One small detail shows how long Dan stayed in Chris’s thoughts. Chris kept an old compass that had belonged to his dad and took it on hunting trips. The compass no longer worked, but it still meant something to him.
How Multiple Sclerosis Changed His Life
Daniel Clifton Pratt was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, often called MS, in the early 1990s. MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can make it hard to walk, see clearly, or control parts of the body.
For a man who earned a living through physical work, the changes were hard. Chris said his father had trouble accepting help and did not take medication or physical therapy for the disease. As his health grew worse, he lost the ability to walk.
Dan and Kathy later separated, and he moved into assisted living. Chris has said his father spent much of his final years watching television. During that time, Chris was starting to become better known as an actor.
Chris has spoken about the sadness and tension they felt, as well as the love that remained. Chris has described those years as painful for everyone involved.
His Death During the Filming of Jurassic World
Daniel Clifton Pratt died on June 30, 2014, at age 60. Chris was filming Jurassic World in New Orleans when he learned his father had died.
Chris later said he tried to keep working and deal with his grief in private. As the lead actor, he felt he had to keep the mood steady for the people around him. Yet the loss stayed with him.
His dad had seen some of Chris’s success before he died. Dan watched his son’s shows on television, and Chris felt those moments gave them a way to connect. The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie reached theaters after Dan’s death, so he did not live to see that part of his son’s rise.
For Chris, losing his dad was made more painful by the fact that their bond had always been complex. He had good memories and hard ones. Both were still there after Dan was gone.
How His Father Shaped Chris Pratt’s Work
Chris has drawn on his experiences with Daniel Clifton Pratt when playing characters who have a hard time with their fathers. His role as Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was one such part. The movie deals with a son seeking answers about his father and learning what family means.
In 2016, Chris said the role made him face feelings he had tried to put away after Dan’s death. Years later, while talking about The Garfield Movie in 2024, he again linked his interest in father-and-son stories to his own life.
Chris knows what it feels like to love a parent and still have questions about that bond. He has brought those feelings to roles that explore family ties, loss, and what children need from their parents.
Chris has also said his dad taught him to work hard and not give up when things got tough. Those lessons stayed with him long after he left Washington for Hollywood.
The Teen Center Named for Dan Pratt
In December 2016, Chris returned to Lake Stevens for a project close to his family. The town broke ground on the Dan Pratt Memorial Teen Center, planned as part of the local Boys & Girls Club.
Chris helped raise money with Omaze, a group that ran a campaign tied to a visit to the set of Guardians of the Galaxy. At the event, he presented a check for $500,000 toward the project. Local reporting said nearly $485,000 had been raised through the campaign.
The center was planned as a place where teens could spend time, learn skills, and find support after school. The plans included computers, a kitchen for classes, and space to gather with friends.
As KIRO 7 reported from the Lake Stevens project, Chris spoke about the time his father spent coaching local children. Naming a place for teens after Dan tied that memory to a new way of helping young people in the town.
The tribute gave Lake Stevens a way to remember a local coach while helping the next group of kids grow up in the town.
Final Thoughts
Daniel Clifton Pratt made his living with his hands, raised three children, and helped coach kids in Lake Stevens. He also lived through a serious illness that put strain on his family. Chris has remembered both his father’s humor and his strict side, without hiding the hard years.
Dan did not live to see the full reach of his son’s movie career. But his impact can still be seen in the way Chris talks about family, the roles he chooses, and the teen center that bears his father’s name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Daniel Clifton Pratt’s job?
He worked in taconite mining in Minnesota, in gold mining in Alaska, and later as a contractor who remodeled homes in Washington.
Who was Daniel Clifton Pratt married to?
He was married to Kathleen Louise “Kathy” Indahl. They had three children together. Chris later said his parents separated during his father’s illness.
How many children did Dan Pratt have?
He had three: Angie, Daniel “Cully” Pratt, and actor Chris Pratt.
When did Chris Pratt’s father die?
Dan died on June 30, 2014, at age 60. Chris was working on Jurassic World at the time.
What illness did Daniel Clifton Pratt have?
He lived with multiple sclerosis for about two decades. The disease affected his mobility and played a major part in his final years.
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