Ke Huy Quan, now 55, has shared details from his teenage years working on the set of Steven Spielberg's 1984 film "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," including a significant residuals payment and his interactions with co-star Harrison Ford.
In his new memoir, "Never Say Die," published September 15, Quan recounts receiving his first residuals check as a teenager. The amount was nearly $100,000, a sum that initially baffled him as he was unfamiliar with the concept of ongoing payments after initial compensation. He described this contractual clause as a "quiet gesture" from Spielberg and producer George Lucas.
Quan, who played Short Round in the film, also reflected on his relationship with Harrison Ford, who was 40 at the time. He revealed that Spielberg would sometimes ask him to interact with Ford to improve his mood during long shooting days. "I just knew that whenever I walked up, Harrison softened a little or said, 'Hey, kid,' in that warm way he had," Quan wrote. While he didn't consciously perceive his actions as cheering Ford up, he enjoyed being around the actor, whom he likened to an older brother. He also noted Ford's apparent ease in embodying the character of Indiana Jones, making it seem as though the role was simply who he was.
Beyond the professional interactions, Quan described Ford as personable off-camera, recalling how Ford taught him to swim in their hotel pool without any pressure, encouraging him by speaking calmly and demonstrating a lack of fear. This experience helped Quan overcome his own anxieties.
In other recent news related to the franchise, Harrison Ford made a surprise appearance at the D23 convention in August, announcing his involvement as the model for the Indiana Jones animatronic in a new ride, "Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent," opening at Disney World's Animal Kingdom. This marks Ford's first appearance in a Disney attraction, despite his multiple roles in Disney-owned franchises.