In the Special Edition of “Return of the Jedi,” Dalyn Chew, an actress of Asian descent, did get screen time as one of the dancers in Jabba the Hutt’s palace. But she did not have any lines, and two years later, the first “Star Wars” prequel, “The Phantom Menace,” faced criticism for ethnic stereotypes. Kelly Marie Tran also weathered the brunt of some online hate from disgruntled fans (and/or Russian trolls) after “The Last Jedi,” but her character endures as part of a continuum of Asian representation in Hollywood, of which Quan and his pioneering work in “Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies” are also a part.

In an interview with GQ (via Indiewire), Quan recently discussed how the success of “Crazy Rich Asians” in 2018 gave him some “serious FOMO” and made him want to return to acting. His performance blazed a trail for other Asian actors, but some of those same actors he inspired would, in turn, inspire him. He explained:

“Over the years, I’ve met a lot of Asian talent now working in Hollywood. They always thank me and say, ‘Man, it was so great to see you up there on the screen, because I was able to see myself. Thank you for paving the way for us to be here.’ And, of course, it’s really interesting because they’ve paved the way for my return. My return to acting is the direct result of the progress made by them.”

He concluded by saying:

“It proves how important it is for not just Asian, but for all groups of people to be represented in entertainment, because like you said, until you see yourself, until you see it, visualize it, you still can’t believe that it could also be you up there on the screen. So that’s why I am so grateful for what has happened the last few years. It’s happened gradually, but I’m very optimistic and very hopeful about where things are going.”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is in theaters now, and you can stream “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” on Disney+.