Indiana Jones is a fictional character.
Henry Walton `` Indiana '' Jones Jr. ( also shortened to Indy ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise . Since his first appearance in Raiders of the Lost Ark , Indiana Jones has become one of cinema 's most famous characters . In 2003 , the American Film Institute ranked him the second greatest film hero of all time . The Indiana Jones franchise is an American media franchise based on the adventures of Dr. Henry `` Indiana '' Jones , Jr. , a fictional archaeologist .