 Jonathan Ke Quan as Short Round : Indy 's eleven @-@ year @-@ old Chinese sidekick , who drives the 1936 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster which allows Indy to escape during the opening sequence . Quan was chosen as part of a casting call in Los Angeles . Around 6000 actors auditioned worldwide for the part : Quan was cast after his brother auditioned for the role . Spielberg liked his personality , so he and Ford improvised the scene where Short Round accuses Indy of cheating during a card game . He was credited by his birthname , Ke Huy Quan . 
