Chan, Jackie (1954-…), is a Hong Kong -born motion-picture actor, director, and martial artist . He is known for creating clever action sequences for his films, and for his daring, acrobatic fighting style and slapstick humor.
Chan was born on Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, on April 7, 1954. His real name is Chan Kong-sang. Chan studied music, dance, and martial arts at the China Drama Academy. The academy trains boys for a traditional form of Chinese theater called Beijing opera, which combines music, drama, dance, and acrobatics. While at the academy, Chan made his acting debut at age 8 in the Hong Kong film Big and Little Wong Tin Bar (1962). He later performed with other opera students in a group called the Seven Little Fortunes.
After graduating from the academy at age 17, Chan worked as a stuntman in Hong Kong action films, including Fist of Fury (1972) and Enter the Dragon (1973), starring the Chinese American actor Bruce Lee . Chan’s first starring role was in the Hong Kong martial arts film New Fist of Fury in 1976. He also starred in the successful Hong Kong martial arts movies Snake in Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master (both 1978). He made his debut as a director with the hit martial arts film Fearless Hyena (1979).
Chan became world famous in 1996 with the Hollywood action comedy Rumble in the Bronx, about a former Hong Kong martial arts champion who comes to New York City and is caught in the crossfire of rival street gangs. His other popular Hollywood films include the action-comedy police series Rush Hour (1998), Rush Hour 2 (2001), and Rush Hour 3 (2007), all of which co-starred the American comedian Chris Tucker; as well as the action comedy Western Shanghai Noon (2000) and its sequel Shanghai Knights (2003), co-starring the American actor Owen Wilson.
Chan’s other notable films include The Tuxedo (2002); The Medallion (2003); Around the World in 80 Days (2004); The Forbidden Kingdom (2008); The Spy Next Door (2010), a remake of the 1984 film The Karate Kid (2010); and Railroad Tigers and Skiptrace (both 2016). Chan also provided the voice for a monkey in the animated films Kung Fu Panda (2008) and its sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Chan’s autobiography, I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action, was published in 1998. His memoir Never Grow Up was published in 2015.
