Jonathan Ke Quan, will always better be known as Short Round or Data, depending on your preference for INDIANA JONES or THE GOONIES.
He only really made those two films, but they were more than enough to leave an impression on audiences.
Jonathan was a Vietnamese immigrant who came to the United States after the fall of Saigon. He and his family were given political asylum and they moved to California.
In 1984 he starred as Short Round, Indiana Jones assistant in INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM. Many older audiences saw him as the Jar Jar of the film, yet to others, he brought welcome comic relief to what was a very dark film. (You can read a great piece on his character here)
He continued with Spielberg in an even bigger role in THE GOONIES. Playing Data, Jonathan was the gadget obsessed member of the gang.
He didn’t only work for Spielberg. He starred in a couple TV series as well.
In the 1986 series TOGETHER WE STAND, he played the adopted son of Elliot Gould and Dee Wallace (E.T.’s mom, proving he could never escape Spielberg). This series only lasted on season but for some reason, I still remember the theme song.
Later, he appeared on the final season of HEAD OF THE CLASS, after Howard Hesseman left and was replaced by Billy Connelly.
There were a few smaller roles, mostly in Asian films (including a 2002 film) and a cameo in ENCINO MAN, but that was about it as far as an acting career.
So, what ever happened to him?
Jonathan, like many others, decided it was more fun behind the camera.
After graduating from USC’s School of Cinema, Jonathan did a little of everything outside of acting. He worked on a short film as an editor and cinematographer. He worked in sound editing, as a foley artist.
But his biggest work has been in the field of fight choreography. He was an assistant to the fight choreographer of THE X-MEN and JET LI’S THE ONE.
Could he have made a name for himself as an actor? While I hate to say it, he may have been typecast in his first two films. It would be difficult to go from Short Round to, say, Hamlet.
Enough time has passed so that maybe he could give acting a shot again. That is if he even wants to.
Friday, May 23, 2008
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO: Jonathan Ke Quan (Short Round)
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6 comments:
I've been thinking about doing a "whatever happened to" post about The Goonies in general for awhile now, but never got around to it. With No Country, LOTR and the Lost Boys sequel, there's been a bit of a renaissance for the actors involved (Plimpton has been kind of around the whole time).
That picture really tells the story, though - WOW, Chunk is THIN! I'm guessing the old guy in the background is Matuzak (sp)?
I recall seeing Ke Quan in Encino Man, but hadn't seen him elsewhere for some time. Sounds like he's doing just fine.
Does anyone klnow nwhat Jonathan Ke Quan is doing at teh moment bin June 2008?
I am working for an Australian TV documentary crew that is very keen to find him. I would greatly apreciate if who knows could let me know what he is doing now, or where he is working, or where I might contact him with a phone number or email address.
Andy
I've loved the Indiana Jones movies, that after watching Crystal Skull, my husband got me the box set of all three and have rewatched Raiders and Temple of Doom (I'm watching The Last Crusade tonight!). After watching Temple of Doom, I really wondered whatever happened to Jonathan KQ. I remembered as a kid, I loved his fight scenes!
A friend of mine is a HUGE Goonies fan. She tells me that she heard that they are making a Goonies sequel with all the original actors. Has anyone heard this to be true? Oh, and that guy can't be Chunk. No way!
I believe Matusak died years ago from a brain tumor? At least that's what I remember hearing.
I hope that's a true rumor regarding a sequel!
The "guy in the back" is richard Donner (director)
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