Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan : Biography

Jackie Chan was born in Hong Kong on April 7th, 1954. His parents, Charles and Lee-lee Chan named him Chan Kong-sang which means "born in Hong Kong." While at the China Academy, Jackie made his acting debut at age eight in the Cantonese movie "Seven Little Valiant Fighters: Big and Little Wong Tin Bar."When Jackie was 17, he graduated from the China Drama Academy. Few years, Jackie worked as a stuntman, but when the Hong Kong movie industry began to fail, he was forced to go to Australia to live with his parents. He worked in a restaurant and on a construction site. It was there that he got the name "Jackie." A worker named Jack had trouble pronouncing "Kong-sang" and started calling Jackie "little Jack." That soon became “Jackie” and the name stuck. Soon Jackie was on his way back to Hong Kong to star in "New Fist of Fury." It was 1976 and Jackie Chan was 21 years old. Once Jackie got back to Hong Kong, Willie Chan took control over Jackie's career. To this day Jackie is quick to point out that he owes his success to Willie. However, the movies that Jackie made for Lo Wei were not very successful. The problem was that Jackie's talents were not being used properly. It was only when Jackie was able to contribute his own ideas that he became a star. He brought humor to martial arts movies; his first success was "Snake in Eagle's Shadow." This was followed by "Drunken Master" (another blockbuster) and Jackie's first ever directing job, "Fearless Hyena." All were big hits. Jackie has been married to Lin Feng-Jiao since 1983 and has a son, actor-singer Jaycee Chan.

Jackie Chan : Charity

Jackie Chan is spending more and more time on his charity work. He takes his work as Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS very seriously and spends all his spare time working tirelessly for children, the elderly, and those in need.The heart of Jackie’s charity work lies in The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation which was founded by Jackie in 1988 to offer scholarships and active help to Hong Kong’s young people through a variety of worthy causes. Over the years, the foundation has broadened its scope to include provision of medical services, aid to victims of natural disaster or illness, and projects where the major beneficiaries are Hong Kong people or organizations.

Jackie Chan : Trade Marks

Uses unusual props (chairs, ladders, lamps, tables, et cetera) in his fight scenes.
Likes to give "thumbs up."
Always does his own stunts.
Often has outtakes at the end of his films of failed stunts and other accidents.
In addition to spectacular stunts and action, his movies often contain scenes in which he is tortured or forced to undergo grueling physical activity (usually as punishment by a master or teacher).
Always plays the "Good Guy"