Born in Minnesota and raised in Lake Stevens, Washington, Pratt's introduction to Hollywood happened in a way that most aspiring actors only dream of. In 2000, Pratt was working at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in Maui, Hawaii, when he found himself waiting on the table of director-actor Rae Dawn Chong. He made such an impression on her, that she offered to fly him to Los Angeles to appear in her comedy-infused horror film Cursed 3, a movie that is notable for the fact that it has no Part 1 or 2. Although the movie has yet to find distribution, Pratt considers the role to be a wonderful experience and the starting point in his career.

During his summer hiatus, Pratt completed production on the Sci-Fi original movie Stratosphere and Strangers with Candy, a big screen version of the hit sketch show on Comedy Central. In 2001, he was offered a starring role as a snowboarding secret agent in the pilot The X-Team, which filmed in New Zealand. Since Pratt was the only actor who already knew how to snowboard, he was able to enjoy the slopes while his fellow actors were undergoing rigorous training sessions. Only two months after the disappointment of finding out The X-Team was not ordered as a series, Pratt was cast in the pilot of Everwood.