Ke Huy Quan's First $100,000 'Indiana Jones' Residual Check Was 'Life-Changing'
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Ke Huy Quan revealed in his memoir "Never Say Die" the surprise of receiving a $100,000 residual check for his role as Short Round in the 1984 film "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," which was uncommon for child actors at the time.
- Quan was only 12 when he filmed the movie and did not initially understand that he would earn residuals beyond his base pay, making the check a life-changing moment for his family.
- He highlighted that residual payments were rare for most actors then and remain mostly reserved for top stars, emphasizing the generosity of Lucasfilm in including him.
- Quan also starred as Data in the 1985 film "The Goonies" and made a major comeback in 2023 with "Everything Everywhere All at Once," winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
- His memoir covers his journey from fleeing Vietnam and living in refugee camps to his early acting career and eventual return to prominence in Hollywood.
