Harrison Ford’s Knee Gesture 40 Years Ago Changed Everything for This ‘Indiana Jones’ Star!

For Ke Huy Quan, the filming of Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” remains an unforgettable memory, highlighted by a life-changing encounter with Harrison Ford. At just 12 years old, the actor, who played the character Short Round, was introduced to the world of a Hollywood blockbuster for the first time, and the experience has stayed with him ever since.

While the thrill of acting alongside his idol was immense, some scenes particularly terrified him. During the famous mine chase scene, which was fast-paced and action-packed, young Ke found himself overwhelmed by fear. He opened up about this experience to Entertainment Weekly in 2025.

“When it came time to shoot that scene, I was so scared. I cried. And I remember Harrison Ford kneeling down to me and asking how I was doing. He said, and I will never forget, ‘Ke, I want you to remember that I will never hurt you.’ When he said that, oh my god, I loved him even more. There was Indiana Jones telling me he would take care of me.”

A Childhood Dream Fulfilled

This experience was the realization of a childhood dream for him. A huge fan of the saga, Ke Huy Quan experienced the filming as a unique opportunity. Later, the first screening of the film was a magical moment.

“I remember watching it for the first time at the premiere, and experiencing the sound effects and music for the first time. I was blown away by all of it. I was only 13 years old at the time, and it made me fall in love with action cinema.”

A Career Rekindled After Decades

After “The Temple of Doom,” Ke Huy Quan played Data in “The Goonies,” but his Hollywood career took a nearly 30-year hiatus. He made a remarkable return in 2022 with the highly acclaimed “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which rebooted his career—and earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2023.

Since then, he has been involved in ambitious projects: appearing in season 2 of “Loki,” lending his voice to “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and taking the lead role in “Back to Business,” an action-comedy inspired by the model of “Nobody” with Bob Odenkirk, released in 2025. Before that, he was seen in the science fiction film “The Electric State” alongside Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown, a film directed by the Russo brothers. Among other upcoming projects, he will also lend his voice to one of the characters in the animated movie “The Legend of Aang – The Last Airbender,” alongside Dave Bautista and Steven Yeun.

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” is available to watch on Disney+.

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