20 Fun Facts About Indiana Jones

Everyone knows Dr. Henry Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) is seriously snake phobic, but do you know which 'Three Men and a Baby' star was originally set to play him? Or what scene Ford filmed pants-less? As the long-awaited 'Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' arrives in theaters, we present 20 fun facts about the man, the legend ... Indiana Jones.
-- By Kevin Polowy

1. A Dog of a Name

Harrison Ford's iconic character wasn't named after Indiana the state, but Indiana the dog -- an Alaskan malamute producer George Lucas once owned (also the inspiration for Chewbacca). Lucas originally called him "Indiana Smith," but Steven Spielberg hated the name, fearing it sounded "too hokey," and the two settled on "Jones." The filmmakers let audiences in on the joke at the end of 'Last Crusade.'

2. Magnum P.I. and the Temple of Doom?

Ford was Spielberg's first choice to play Indy, but not Lucas', since he had already directed him in 'Star Wars' and 'American Graffiti.' So the role was offered to Tom Selleck, who accepted but had to then drop out due to conflicts with 'Magnum P.I.' Nick Nolte was also offered the role, but turned it down. Thank you dearly, Tom and Nick.

3. Keeping Up With the Joneses

Aside from Ford, Indiana Jones has been portrayed by four other actors: the late River Phoenix (as Young Indy in 'Last Crusade,' a casting Ford suggested), Sean Patrick Flanery, Corey Carrier and George Hall (all in the TV spin-off 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles').

4. Indy by the Numbers

Times Indiana Jones uses his trademark whip in the original trilogy: 8

5. Bringing Up Babs

During the filming of 'Temple Of Doom,' the crew played a practical joke on Ford that is the stuff of movie legend (and some naughty, naughty dreams): As he was chained to a large stone, Barbra Streisand appeared in a leather dominatrix outfit and whipped him repeatedly, saying "That's for 'Hanover Street,' the worst movie I ever saw." Carrie Fisher then stepped in to protect him.

6. They Were on His Mutha F***in' Plane First

As 'Snakes on a Plane' became an internet phenomenon in 2006 because of its outrageous premise and straightforward title, few gave credit where credit was due: to ophidiophobe Indiana Jones, who first exclaimed, "There's a big snake in the plane, Jock!" in 1981's 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' In hindsight, Lucas, Spielberg, et al are likely grateful no one made the association.

7. Indy by the Numbers

Number of plane flights in the original trilogy: 6 (plus one blimp ride)

8. Indy by the Numbers

Number of snake encounters in the original trilogy: 6

9. The Style Council

Indy's costume, style and accessories have several influences: George Lucas (the flight jacket), Humphrey Bogart in 'The Treasure of Sierra Madre' (the fedora), Zorro (the whip) and Charlton Heston in 'Secret of the Incas' (the costume and overall look). Of course his creators couldn't help but poke fun at his style: "What are you supposed to be, a lion tamer?" Willie (Kate Capshaw) asks him in 'Temple Of Doom.'

10. Vested Interest

The vest Indiana wears as he and Willie flirt about the palace in 'Temple Of Doom' was originally designed for Han Solo in 'Star Wars.'

11. Hat Trick

How important is the fedora to the legend of Indiana Jones? During the filming of 'The Last Crusade,' rumors circulated that Ford stapled it to his head to keep it from falling off. That's not true, but this is: To make the hat appear battered and worn, Ford and his costume designer would grab, twist and sit on it before takes.

12. Injury Report

Ford's hat wasn't the only thing bruised and battered: The actor sustained all kinds of injuries while shooting the first three films, including bruised ribs and torn knee ligaments ('Raiders'), and a serious hernia ('Temple of Doom').

13. Indy by the Numbers

Number of times Indy is hit by a woman in the original trilogy: 2

14. Indy by the Numbers

Number of times Indy hits a woman: 1 (a cocktail waitress during a bar-room brawl in 'Temple of Doom')

15. Liberal Arts

It's never clear in the films where Dr. Jones lectures (though it is apparent his female students are jonesin' for an appointment with the good doctor), but according to the videogames he's professor at the fictional New England university Barnett College.

16. A Favorite Scholar

As revealed in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' Indy studied under the tutelage of Abner Ravenwood (Marion's father) at the University of Chicago. Some fellow alum of U of C are such notable (real) folks as Paul Wolfowitz, Kurt Vonnegut, Mike Nichols, Ed Asner, Roger Ebert and Barack Obama.

17. The Spy Who Loved Him

A major inspiration for Indiana Jones? Bond, James Bond. Spielberg has said that casting Sean Connery to play Indy's father in 'The Last Crusade,' was a nod to the fact that the filmmakers considered 007 the Hollywood patriarch of Indiana Jones (three former Bond villains also appear in the film).

18. Droppin' Trou

Both Connery and Ford went pants-less during the shooting of the entire Zeppelin scene in 'The Last Crusade,' reportedly because it was filmed in a muggy studio and Connery didn't want to sweat too much. Ford, we're assuming, did it in the name of solidarity.

19. Indy by the Numbers

Estimated number of kills by Indy in the original trilogy: 45

20. Toy Story

While 'Indiana Jones' action figures never exploded in popularity like their 'Star Wars' counterparts, Indy has still been immortalized in the world of toys: He's available in Lego form, standing at 45 mm tall.