Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts. He gained recognition as one of the Seven Little Fortunes from the China Drama Academy and has been acting since the 1960s, appearing in over 150 films. Chan is considered one of the most influential action film stars of all time.
In terms of his Hollywood career, Jackie Chan achieved global success with several iconic movies. One of his breakthrough hits was "Rumble in the Bronx" (1995), which gained a cult following in the United States. This was followed by the action comedy "Rush Hour" (1998), where he co-starred with Chris Tucker, propelling him to become a Hollywood star. The success of "Rush Hour" led to a franchise with two sequels. Additionally, Chan showcased his talent in special effects and wirework in films like "Shanghai Noon" (2000) and its sequel "Shanghai Knights" (2003). These movies not only showcased his martial arts skills but also his comedic timing, making him a beloved figure in Hollywood.
Chan is not only a successful film personality but also an operatically trained vocalist and a Cantopop and Mandopop star. He is known for his philanthropic work and has been acknowledged as one of the top 10 most charitable celebrities by Forbes magazine. In 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $350 million, making him one of the wealthiest actors in the world.
Jackie Chan, birth name Chan Kong-sang, was born on April 7, 1954, in British Hong Kong. His parents, Charles and Lee-Lee Chan, were political refugees from the Chinese Civil War. Chan's father, originally named Fang Daolong, briefly worked as a secret agent for Lieutenant General Dai Li in Kuomintang-ruled China. Fearing arrest by the communist government, Chan's father fled to British Hong Kong in the 1940s and changed his surname from Fang to Chan.
During his early years, Jackie Chan lived in the French consul's residence in British Hong Kong. He attended Nah-Hwa Primary School but failed his first year and had to leave. Chan went to the China Drama Academy, where he trained in martial arts and acrobatics. He became part of the Seven Little Fortunes, a performance group with fellow students Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. Chan also trained in hapkido under grand master Jin Pal Kim and gained expertise in various forms of Kung-fu, Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, and Jeet Kun Do.
Jackie Chan started his career in films as a child actor, taking on small roles at the age of five. By the time he was eight, he appeared in movies like "Big and Little Wong Tin Bar" (1962) and "Liang Shan Po and Chu Ying Tai" (1964). Chan also had the opportunity to work alongside Bruce Lee in films like "Fist of Fury" (1972) and "Enter the Dragon" (1973), where he served as both an extra and a stunt double.
Jackie Chan achieved success in the North American market in 1995 with the global release of "Rumble in the Bronx," which gained a cult following in the United States, a rarity for Hong Kong movie stars. Chan's breakthrough blockbuster success came in 1998 with the action comedy "Rush Hour," where he co-starred with Chris Tucker. This film grossed US$130 million in the United States alone and propelled Chan to become a Hollywood star.
In 1998, Chan's final film for Golden Harvest was released, titled "Who Am I?". In 2000, Chan contributed to the creation of a PlayStation game called "Jackie Chan Stuntmaster", where he provided his voice and performed motion capture. He continued his success in Hollywood in 2000 with the action comedy "Shanghai Noon", co-starring with Owen Wilson. This was followed by a sequel, "Shanghai Knights" in 2003, which featured his first on-screen fight scene with Donnie Yen.
He reunited with Chris Tucker for "Rush Hour 2" (2001), which was even more successful than the original. Chan explored special effects and wirework in the fight scenes of his next two Hollywood films, "The Tuxedo" (2002) and "The Medallion" (2003), but they were not as critically or commercially successful.
In 2004, he teamed up with Steve Coogan in "Around the World in 80 Days", based on Jules Verne's novel. Film scholar Andrew Willis described Chan as the "most recognized star in the world" in 2004.
Jackie Chan has been internationally recognized for his performances in films and his impressive stunt work. He has received prestigious awards such as the Innovator Award from the American Choreography Awards and a lifetime achievement award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards. In addition, he has been honored with stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars.
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