What is the name of Indy's young sidekick in 'Temple of Doom'?

The story behind the answer

Indy's young sidekick in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is Short Round. Played by Ke Huy Quan, Short Round is a resourceful Chinese orphan and taxi driver who helps Indiana Jones escape Shanghai and survive the dangerous journey to India.

Set in 1935, the film begins with Indiana, Short Round, and nightclub singer Willie Scott fleeing Shanghai after a deal with crime boss Lao Che goes wrong. Short Round is not merely comic relief: he drives the getaway car, helps Indy during the adventure, and plays a crucial role in breaking the spell controlling Indy and the Maharajah of Pankot.

Short Round is often confused with Indy's other allies, including Marcus Brody, Sallah, and Mutt Williams. Mutt appears much later in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, while Short Round belongs specifically to Temple of Doom. The role helped launch Ke Huy Quan's acting career; he was about 12 years old when the film was made and later returned to major attention as an adult performer.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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