Wan "Short Round" Li, the family's most prominent member, in 1935.
The Chinese family of Wan Li, better known as "Short Round", included:
- Short Round's father - Steel plant foreman, father of Wan Li and apparent patriarch
- Short Round's mother - Wife of Wan Li's father and Wan Li's mother
- Short Round - Born Wan Li, pickpocket, bodyguard and sidekick of American archaeologist Indiana Jones
- Chu - Brother of Wan Li
- Big Short Round - Pet elephant of Wan Li and supposed reincarnation of Chu
In January 1932,[1] all of the family save for Li perished by the Japanese bombing raid on Shanghai, leaving Li an orphan who had to learn how to survive in the streets until coming across with Indiana Jones, who took him under his wing.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Whether "Uncle Wong", a character first mentioned in James Kahn's novelization of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, is actually related to Wan "Short Round" Li or not was left ambiguous in Shorty's Marshall College entry on IndianaJones.com.[1] In China, calling an elder "uncle" is often a sign of respect and not necessarily indicative of a blood relative. However, Short Round's use may actually be to disguise his theft of the man's car.
According to the unauthorized Spanish-language book Indiana Jones: Biografía, Li was adopted by a high-society couple—friends of Willie Scott in New York City, eventually following in Indiana Jones' footsteps by studying archeology at the University of Chicago.[3] This account is not endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Appearances[]
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Mentioned only)
