So why did he quit acting?
And what lured him back in front of the camera after 35 years away?
“I started doing the math in my head,” says Kwan.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.Everett Collection
“I was, like, he would be the right age.
What isthatguy up to?”
It was a fair question.
The Goonies.Everett Collection
“So he moved on.”
and this is decades without an agent.
I was like, oh my God!
Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.'.Allyson Riggs/A24
Despite decades away from acting, Quan impressed Kwan and Scheinert.
That’s the person we imagined when we were writing this role."
But nowhere near as incredible as how he wound up inIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Ke Huy Quan ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once.'.Allyson Riggs/A24
Born in Vietnam, Quan, together with his parents and siblings, fled the country in 1978.
“Our family was separated for a year,” says Quan.
“We were so blessed.
They were searching for a young actor to play Short Round, the film’s young pickpocket-turned-Indy-sidekick.
“Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were looking for an Asian kid,” says Quan.
“They went everywhere looking, and they couldn’t find him.
The last stop was in Chinatown, Los Angeles.
They held an open call, and my brother went in to audition, and I accompanied him.
The next day, Spielberg’s office called, inviting Quan to meet with the director.
“My mom thought this was a fancy meeting, so she put me in this three-piece suit.
[Laughs] I was really uncomfortable.
We spent a whole afternoon together.
Literally, that movie, it changed the trajectory of my life.
I wouldn’t be here talking to you if it wasn’t for Spielberg and Lucas and Harrison.”
Quan’s appearance inIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomled him to an enduring interest in martial arts.
“I grew up watching Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung movies,” he says.
It’s calledThe Goonies.’
That’s how he wound up starring in the memorably-named 1993 Taiwanese showThe Big Eunuch and the Little Carpenter.
“That was a 40-episode primetime television show; it was really fun to do,” he says.
“After being inIndyandThe Goonies, [there were] very little opportunities for me.
Eventually, Quan decided to throw in the acting towel and studied film at USC.
“So I worked with him on theX-MenandThe Oneand we did some movies in Hong Kong.”
“I worked for Wong Kar-wai for many years,” says the actor.
“I didn’t know [what] it was until I sawCrazy Rich Asians, honestly.
I really credit that movie.
It’s such a seminal movie for me.
“I didFinding ‘Ohanaafter I got the role of Waymond forEverything Everywhere All At Once,” says Quan.
“I actually took the fanny pack home and practiced for a long time,” he says.
I was doing it for months.”
“I’m very proud of it,” he says.
“I think it’s an amazing movie; I feel so blessed to be a part of this.
I think everybody’s amazing in it.
And, honestly, I think the Daniels are freaking geniuses.
So, is Quan ready for hissecondclose-up?
“I can’t tell you how happy I am,” he says.
“To haveEverything Everywhere…as my comeback movie, I’m speechless.
Everything, Everywhere All At Onceis out in limited theaters March 25 and is released wide April 8.
