"I am very focused on realism; I try to shoot on location as much as possible”
Asia’s cheeky, lovable and most popular film star, Jackie Chan was born on 7 April 1954 on Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Peak. The parents of future international star, Charles and Lee-Lee Chan were so poor that they had to borrow money to pay the doctor for his delivery. It’s an unusual fact that the child remained in the womb of her mother for 12 months.
Jackie’s Nick Name was Pao-pao (literally meaning "Cannonball") because of the high-energy he was always rolling around when he was a child.
A Master of All: In addition to Acting, Jackie Chan is an Action Choreographer, Stunt Performer, Director, Producer, Martial Artist, Screenwriter, Singer and Entrepreneur. In his movies, he is known for his fast paced acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons & gadgets and innovative stunts. He is one of the very few actors in the world to have performed all of his film stunts. He has been acting since 1960s and has appeared in over 150 domestic and international films.
His family immigrated to Australia in early 1960 but Jackie was sent back to Hong Kong to attend the China Drama Academy. Jackie was enrolled there at the age of seven and spent the next 10 years training rigorously in various parts of Peking Opera. It was at this Academy that Jackie learned the acrobatics, martial arts, acting, and singing that would later pave the way for him to utilize these skills in films and become an international superstar. It all started with a tiny role as a stunt player offered by a visiting filmmaker. Jackie took the part, and soon left the Opera to pursue the world of film. It was here too that he met and began lifelong friendships with fellow martial artists and future film stars Biao Yuen and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo. During this time, Jackie had travelled back and forth to visit his parents and work in Australia, but eventually he made his way back to Hong Kong as his permanent home.
When Jackie left the Academy at the age of 17, the Peking Opera was no longer popular and graduates were turning to stunt work in Hong Kong movies. Jackie soon gained a reputation as a talented and fearless stuntman and over the next few years he swiftly climbed the ladder of success. God-gifted with matchless talents and a unique fresh and smiling persona, he was soon acting for dozens of films. Jackie’s talent and enthusiasm knew no bounds and soon saw him taking larger and more important roles, graduating first to stunt coordinator, and then to director.
Jackie’s Wife Feng-Jiao Lin is a Taiwanese born actress. They married in 1982. Feng-Jiao Lin was quite an active and well respected actress and worked in over 100 movies in Taiwan and Hong Kong in her career. She was a movie star long before her husband Jackie Chan. After marriage she left the acting career for good. They are still together and have 1 child, Jaycee Chan.
Awards: During his film career that spans over five-decades, Jackie has received hundreds of awards for his acting, directing, writing, and stunt work. It reflects his amazing career in which several times, he nearly lost his life and broken numerous bones.
Guinness Record: In Dec. 2012, Jackie Chan was presented with two Guinness World Records certificates during the official launch of his movie ‘Chinese Zodiac’, in Shanghai. The two World Records that he set were …
“Most Credits in one movie”
“Most Stunts performed by a living actor”
Jackie carried out 15 of the major creative movie-making roles for the film that include Writer – Director – Lead Actor – Producer – Executive Producer – Cinematographer – Art Director – Unit Production Manager – Catering Coordinator – Stunt Coordinator – Gaffer – Composer – Theme Tune Vocalist – Props & Stuntman. Previous record of 11 credits was held by Robert Rodriguez.
"Achieving these Guinness World Records titles is recognition of all my life's work"
Commenting on the achievement, GWR Greater China President Rowan Simons said, "nobody has risked more in the name of entertainment than Jackie Chan and this world record is a tribute both to his creativity and his endurance."
Jackie worked with Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee : At the age of seventeen, he worked as a stuntman in the Bruce Lee films Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon. He also had a cameo with Bruce Lee in one of the fights scenes where he attacked Lee from behind.
Jackie started directing movies with The Young Master (1980) that became a milestone in martial arts films. It was one of the first films to effectively combine comedy with action. This set the tone for many of his future films, which combined high-energy martial arts action with slapstick humor. Jackie and his legendary stunt team are unparalleled in their ability to showcase the most incredible fight scenes and action sequences, but understandably, they are blacklisted by insurance companies.
A Humanitarian: if you think Jackie Chan is all about mischief, fighting, humor or entertainment, then you don’t know him.
Jackie has devoted much of his spare time and energy to charity work in past two decades. In 1988, he established the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and since then he has worked for dozens of charities at homeland and abroad. In recent years he has focused his energies on his Dragon’s Heart Foundation, which builds schools in remote areas of China. Among his many other charitable endeavors, he is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS, a celebrity cabinet member of the American Red Cross, founder of the Jackie Chan Civil Aviation Foundation in China, and has hosted charity car races and concerts for many years.
He has been directly involved in many humanitarian ventures providing financial assistance to schools and universities around the world. He has campaigned against pollution and animal abuse and assisted with disaster relief efforts to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami victims.
Insurance companies don’t endorse Chan's productions, in which he performs all of his stunts himself. During the making of Police Story when a number of stuntmen were injured, he formed the Jackie Chan Stuntmen Association. He trained the stuntmen personally and pays for their medical bills out of his own pocket.
