Rare Behind the Scenes Photos of Harrison Ford and Ke Huy Quan During the Filming of “Indiana Jones”

When Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan hugged Harrison Ford at the 95th Academy Awards after Quan’s Everything Everywhere All at Once won Best Picture, it was more than just a celebration of one movie’s victory. The teary embrace was an emotional reunion with Ford, Quan’s co-star in 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — and the origin of that friendship can be seen in these rare photos, shot by Eva Sereny, as they hung out while filming.

Temple of Doom, in which Quan played Indy’s chatty kid sidekick Short Round, was his first film as an actor. He was just 12, and superstar Ford was 40.

“When he opened that envelope and read the title, it made our win for Best Picture even more special,” Quan told Variety of the moment Ford announced the big Oscars winner. “And when I ran up onstage, I pointed at him and he pointed back at me and I gave him a hug.”

“I just couldn’t help myself,” Quan said. “I just want to shower this man with all my love. I gave Harrison Ford a big kiss on the cheek.”

Photographer Eva Sereny, who was hired to document the behind the scenes goings-on during filming of the first three Indiana Jones films, captured many magical moments between the two stars. Shot in Sri Lanka, Sereny’s intimate portraits show Ford and young Ke embracing, horsing around and riding elephants.

“Of course, working on a Spielberg movie is something very special,” wrote Sereny, who died in 2021, in her book Through Her Lens: The Stories Behind the Photography of Eva Sereny. “Just seeing Steven direct is fascinating. He has every shot completely worked out and under control.”