In his memoir “Never Say Die,” Ke Huy Quan shares the profound experience of receiving his first residual check of $100,000 for his role in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” as a child actor.
Quan was only 12 years old when he secured the part of Short Round in the 1984 film, his first major acting role, and he was unaware that residuals would be part of his compensation.
He recalls a moment from his childhood: entering the kitchen to find his parents gathered at the table, his mother holding an envelope bearing his name, and his father with the documents that accompanied it.
Quan writes that his parents were smiling with a blend of surprise and disbelief, handing him the items. It was a check from Lucasfilm for nearly $100,000, an amount that seemed unimaginable to him at the time.
He explains that during that era, profit shares were rare for actors, typically reserved for major stars even today. As a child actor in his debut film, being included in such a profitable project was unprecedented. “Temple of Doom,” a sequel to a massive hit, was expected to be a box-office success, which made Lucasfilm’s gesture particularly generous.
Quan emphasizes that this share was life-changing for his family.
In addition to his role in Indiana Jones, Quan starred as Data in Richard Donner’s 1985 film “The Goonies.” After decades away from the spotlight, he made a triumphant return in 2023 with “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. His memoir, released recently, details his early life fleeing Vietnam with his father, time in refugee camps, his journey as a child actor, and his successful comeback to the screen.