Ke Huy Quan Reveals Spielberg’s Epic Joke on Harrison Ford—The Biography Prank That Had Everyone Talking!

Long before he won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once, Ke Huy Quan was living every child actor’s dream—starring in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies, two Spielberg-backed blockbusters that defined a generation. But it wasn’t just the adventures on screen that left a lasting impression. As Quan recently revealed to The Guardian, one of his most treasured memories involved a playful, expertly executed prank on Harrison Ford—courtesy of Steven Spielberg himself.

During production on The Goonies, Quan’s Temple of Doom co-star Harrison Ford paid a surprise visit to the set. While Quan was “star-struck” at seeing the iconic archaeologist again, Spielberg had other plans in store—ones that leaned into Ford’s known disdain for an unauthorized biography that had recently been published about him.

“There was a biography out of him that he really hated,” Quan recalled. “So Steven went out and bought about 300 copies, so that when Harrison came to visit and walked on to set, the security guard, the gaffers, the camera equipment people, everybody was reading that biography.”

The image of Harrison Ford strolling onto the set, only to be met by a sea of crewmembers intently flipping through a book he loathed, paints a vivid and hilarious picture. It also reveals Spielberg’s mischievous side and the close-knit camaraderie that defined his productions.

But Ford wasn’t the only larger-than-life figure to drop in. As Quan fondly recalled, another unforgettable visitor was none other than Michael Jackson. “We were constantly looking over our shoulder waiting for him,” Quan said. “When he walked onto the set, everybody just stopped what they were doing—even the guy making the coffee.”

Jackson’s visit was more than a fleeting photo-op. He gifted the cast with concert tickets and jackets—tokens of a surreal encounter that remained etched in Quan’s memory, though he now laments losing the jacket he received.

Quan, just a child at the time, also shared a more tender moment from his Indiana Jones days, recalling Ford’s kindness during a particularly emotional scene. “When we shot this sequence, I was so scared. And I cried,” he said. “Harrison Ford knelt down in front of me and asked me if I was okay.”

“He said, and I’ll never forget this, ‘Ke, I want you to remember, I will never hurt you.’” For Quan, those words from his on-screen protector solidified a lifelong admiration.

Now, decades later, Ke Huy Quan is returning to the spotlight, but the stories of Spielberg’s pranks, Michael Jackson’s generosity, and Ford’s gentle mentorship are reminders that behind the blockbusters were moments of warmth, wonder, and a little bit of well-planned mischief.