Alongside his academic teachings, Jones Sr. is an author of many books and a professional speaker on his historical subject at many conferences throughout the world.

His relationship to his son in the franchise is noted as indifferent due to conflicts on their approaches to their situations, despite the fondness they share for history and archaeology.

Alongside appearances in live-action media, the character has featured in Indiana Jones novels and comic books.

He is presumably a Christian (although his denomination is unclear), made evident by his intolerance of his son using Jesus' name in vain, slapping the younger Henry across the face when he does so and telling him, "That's for blasphemy!

After the death of his wife Anna from influenza in 1912, the gulf between father and son grew to the point where they rarely spoke.

For much of Indiana's life, Henry disapproves of his son's frequent resort to violence, considering it unworthy of a scholar.

Rather than physical confrontation, Henry prefers more elegant expedients, such as when he flaps his umbrella at a flock of seagulls, sending them into the engines of a pursuing Nazi fighter plane.

Shortly afterwards, while carrying out research in a library in Venice, he is captured by Nazi officials and interned in Brunwald Castle on the Austrian border.

Steven Spielberg chose to introduce Indiana's father in the third film, as he found the Holy Grail to be an unspectacular plot device.

Spielberg felt that Sean Connery was the obvious choice to play the role because James Bond was an inspiration for Indiana.

Owen shared the character's love of medieval history, having studied Geoffrey Chaucer's The Knight's Tale.

"[17] Connery turned down a cameo appearance in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), as he was enjoying retirement too much, and because "it was not that generous a part, worth getting back into the harness and go for".

[18] In a statement, he provided one last piece of advice for "Junior" – keep the cliffs low, the monsters CGI and the whip close at hand to fend off the stunt coordinator.

[19] George Lucas said in hindsight that it was good Connery did not appear, as it would disappoint the audience when his character did not join the film's adventure.

[25] That same year, Hasbro released a 3 ¾-inch action figure that comes with his suitcase, umbrella and the Holy Grail; a die-cast model of him and Indiana in the motorcycle;[26] and a Mighty Mugg (caricature) toy.

[28] Time magazine included Jones Sr. on their "Top 10 Movie Dads We’d Use To Build the Perfect Father", citing how he comes back into Indiana's life to help him search for the legendary Holy Grail, and his "detachment" as the "parenting trait they admire".