Is it possible to imagine a person who would not know Jackie Chan? Just say his name, and a talented Chinese actor with a charming smile and amazing karate skills will appear in your mind's eye. It seems that nothing is impossible for him, he starred in a huge number of films and became famous throughout the world.
This sweet fellow seems to have every talent imaginable, not to mention natural charisma and an always positive attitude. But where did it all begin? Has Jackie Chan always been as successful as he is now? Did he have connections to general recognition or did he achieve everything on his own? Let's look at an interesting and rich life path world famous " nice guy».
No one will argue that Jackie Chan is in excellent shape, otherwise he simply would not be able to perform all the tricks for which he became famous throughout the world. But if we talk more specifically about height, weight, age. How old is Jackie Chan? You can answer that his height is 174 centimeters and his weight is 62 kilograms.
That is, the Chinese actor is thin and fit, always athletic and fit. It’s hard to believe, but now the star is already 63 years old, because he seems forever young. His unrivaled acting talent, athletic skills and natural charm simply “doomed” him to fame and success in the world of cinema and show business.
The actor's real name is Chen Gansheng, which means "born in Hong Kong", and he received the name Jackie when he was friends with the Australians. The fact is that another young man, whose name was Jack, also worked at the construction site where the future star worked. In order not to worry too much about names, they decided to call the new guy “Little Jack”, in other words it sounds like Chan or Jackie. This is how a Chinese guy with a fancy name turned into Jackie Chan.
The future actor's childhood was not too easy, primarily because he grew up in poor family. It would seem that the poor boy would never be able to make it into the world, but fate decreed otherwise. Until he was six years old he went to regular school in Hong Kong, and then moved to a school at the Peking Opera, where he was taught some stage skills, as well as the ability to control his body on stage. Jackie was also interested in kung fu from an early age.
Chan went to cinema for the first time at the age of eight. He first appeared as an extra, and already, as a teenager, he again became an extra, but this time performing stunts. He even had the opportunity to duplicate the legendary Bruce Lee, whom the young guy treated very reverently, with undisguised delight.
It must be said that initially Jackie Chan got into films as a stuntman, as a rule, he received episodic roles, or they were very small. He confidently possessed acrobatics skills, his plastic movements delighted those around him, and his stage skills also did not let him down. Therefore, in the seventies they already began to offer him serious roles. After some time, the actor began to direct films on his own, mainly of an entertaining nature.
Jackie Chan's filmography is enormous. In every film where he appeared, he created an unforgettable atmosphere that immediately sank into the souls of the audience. The actor’s breakthrough film can be called “The Drunken Master,” where he played a careless and slack hero, but kind and brave. In the eighties, he starred in a number of films called “Lucky Stars”, although there he played a supporting role. Three years later, he creates his own group of stuntmen, this happens on the set of “Project A”. He continues to work with these guys in the future. With each film in the early nineties, the actor tried to break into the American market.
I would like to note that Chan completely refuses to play villains. But he was offered to do this at least twice, and the fees were decent. Real popularity awaited the actor in the mid-nineties, when the film “Rumble in the Bronx” was released, followed by a number of successful films with his participation.
At the same time, Jackie receives good money for his work, which he could not even dream of as a child. So the boy from a poor Chinese family began to make millions. I would also like to add that the actor performs as a pop singer, and sings in different languages. He began his singing career in the mid-eighties, during which time he released twenty albums and sang more than a hundred songs.
Jackie Chan's personal life is stable and constant. For several years now, he has been married to a Taiwanese actress named Lin Fengjiao. Many sources list the wedding date as “December 1, 1982,” but the written autobiography says 1983. They have a son growing up in their marriage, and Jackie Chan has illegitimate daughter, born from a relationship with an actress named Elaine Wu Qili.
According to many sources, Jackie Chan did not show much attention to the girl, apparently deciding that he did not need it, but no one knows for sure. In any case, he had his own motives for this, which he did not voice to the press.
Jackie Chan's family is small but strong; it consists of himself, his actress wife and his son, who was born in the early eighties. He also, as mentioned above, has an illegitimate daughter. In fact, for some reason, Jackie Chan's personal life has rarely received much press coverage.
Jackie Chan once said in an interview that one of his fifteen-year-old fans committed suicide when she found out that he got married. Realizing that he was responsible for such incidents, the actor decided to carefully hide his family secrets. But still, he has had a family for a long time, and he looks quite happy next to you with relatives. That, however, did not stop him from “playing” his daughter on the side.
Jackie Chan's children are his son, who grew up in a legal marriage, and he also has a daughter from a temporary relationship with another actress. It must be said that the girl was born in 1999, that is, when the actor was legally married. It is difficult to say about the reason for the act, but one way or another, the Hollywood actor had no intention of leaving the family.
They even wrote in the press that he did not show much attention to the newborn girl. It is unknown what kind of relationship he now has with his illegitimate daughter. But it is known that for his family, Chan does everything possible to ensure that his relatives are happy and loved by him, and this is the main thing for him.
Jackie Chan's son Chan Zuming was born into the family in 1982, but some sources point to 1984. For Jackie Chan it turned out to be only son, and the rightful heir, given that he also has a daughter. Today, Jackie Chan's son is already an adult, but it is difficult to say to what extent he will repeat the success of his father.
Of course, with parents like his, all doors to show business are open, but we know very little about him. Perhaps in China they know more about the guy; he acts in film or works in show business. One way or another, he is with his father good relations, inherited from him strong will and persistent character.
Jackie Chan's daughter Etta Wu Zholin became the actor's second child, but, however, she is illegitimate. A girl was born in 1999, when Jackie was in a relationship with actress Elaine Wu Tsili. It is unknown how the celebrity felt after he learned that he would become a father again unplanned.
At one time, the press wrote that Jackie Chan did not show much attention or interest in his daughter. We know little about the girl; she lives with her mother, and perhaps does not even communicate with her father. But, as we know, the truth is somewhere in the middle, so no one can say for sure what it really is.
Common-law wife Jackie Chan Lin Fengjiao is the legal wife of Jackie Chan. They got married in the early eighties. Taiwanese actress, she completely shares creative path star husband. They had a son in their marriage, and considering that Chan has an illegitimate daughter, it turns out that for some time they might have been at odds.
But in the end they are still together, their family can become a real example of a long married life. We know little about this actress, but it is possible that she is popular in her country. Of course, first of all, she is the wife of everyone’s favorite actor Jackie Chan, and this is her main achievement.
Photos of Jackie Chan before and after plastic surgery are searched on the Internet by many, because the actor was injured a lot of times. But did he turn to a plastic surgeon after that? Most likely, the situation is such that the celebrity turned to an ordinary surgeon many times, because there is not a single intact bone in his body.
But going to see a doctor to prolong youth or get a facelift is doubtful. After all, Jackie Chan does not need this at all; he is in excellent shape, even in his seventh decade. So the great actor does not use plastic surgery, although he is already remembered on the surgeon’s table, because he has been there more than once.
There is a lot of information about Jackie Chan on the Internet, starting from his childhood and talking about his creative path. One of the most important sources is the Wikipedia page (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chan,_Jackie), which contains general facts about the Hollywood actor. But if you want to know even more about Jackie Chan, then you should turn to social networks.
The Hollywood star actively uses Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eyeofjackiechan/?hl=ru), maintains a personal page there, where she posts photos and shares news from her life. It cannot be otherwise, because he must tell his fans about himself, who are interested in his every step. Jackie Chan's Instagram and Wikipedia will always help you get a little closer to the talented actor.
Jackie Chan (Chinese 成龍, Cheng Long; born China 陳港生, Chen Gansheng - “Chen born in Hong Kong”; English: Jackie Chan). Born on April 7, 1954 in Hong Kong (China). Chinese and American actor, stuntman, film director, producer, screenwriter, stunt and fight choreographer, singer, philanthropist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, martial artist. Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Chan is one of the most popular action heroes in the world, known for his acrobatic fighting style, gift for comedy, and the use of a variety of "implements" in his fights. He has starred in more than 100 films and is one of the most famous Asian actors in the world. In addition to cinema, he also works singing career- He has sung title songs in many of his films and released albums since the 1980s.
Jackie was born into a poor Chinese family. His parents Charles Chan (1914-2008) and Lily Chan (1916-2002) fled to Hong Kong from the mainland during civil war, and in 1960 they moved to Australia. Before moving, they worked as a cook and maid at the residence of the French Ambassador in Hong Kong.
Jackie studied at elementary school"Nah-Hwa Primary School", but at the age of 6 he was sent to the Peking Opera School at the Chinese Institute of Opera Studies in Hong Kong. In addition to stage training, this helped little Chan learn to control his body better. Jackie was also interested in the martial art of kung fu.
He began acting in episodic roles in films as a child - at the age of 8-10 he starred in the crowd of a classic film in the genre of the Huangmei opera “ Eternal Love", in the film "Big and Little Wong Tin Bar" as the son main character performed by Li Lihua and the Beijing Opera "The Story of Qin Xianglian". As a teenager he took part in stunt extras, in particular in the films “Fist of Fury” and “Enter the Dragon” with the participation of Bruce Lee. Chan was part of the group "The Lucky Seven" along with Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Corey Kwai, who also became popular actors.
In 1976, Jackie moved to his parents in Canberra, where he briefly studied at Dickson College and worked as a builder.
He began his film career as a stuntman, sometimes appearing in cameos and small roles. Confident in kung fu, acrobatics, good plasticity and stagecraft skills, Chan began to play larger roles in the mid-1970s, and then directed films himself. He makes films of an entertainment nature - comedies with demonstrations of martial arts and ordinary street fights, gradually forming a new film genre in which only he can work (since only Chan could put his life in danger for the sake of the next trick).
Chan's first breakthrough project was the film "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow." The director of the film, Yuan Heping, allowed Chan to come up with his own stunts in the film. The film was created in the genre of a martial arts comedy film. In the same year, Chan starred in the film “Drunken Master,” which cemented the beginning of a successful career. In the film, Chan played an unusual role for himself - the broken and careless fellow Wong Fei Hong. In this sense, the film was quite innovative. Also very successful was the comic duo of Chan and the elderly actor Yuen Hsiu Tien (also known as Simon Yuen), the father of the famous fight director Yuen Woo-Ping.
In the 1980s he appeared in several films about " Lucky stars" in supporting roles, the main roles were played by Sammo Hung.
On the set of Project A in 1983, Chan officially created the Jackie Chan stunt team, with which he worked on subsequent films.
Chan repeatedly tried to break into the American market in the early 1980s with the projects “The Big Brawl,” “Cannonball Race,” “Cannonball Race 2,” and “Patron.”
Chan claims that he created his image as opposed to the image of his many clones. The latter played focused and brave fighters, and Jackie played lazy, sometimes simple-minded, but kind and strong guys, often in strained relationships with family, friends or girlfriends. However, in the end, his heroes always triumph, despite the difficulties.
In the 2000s, Chan experimented more and more with genres, characters and plots. In an interview (additional material on the Italian Bluray release of Around the World in 80 Days), he said that he wanted to prove that he was an actor who could fight, and not a fighter who could act. Chan often says that he did most of his own stunts and sometimes doubled for other actors. But the claim that he does all the stunts himself is wrong; for example, in the film “The Tuxedo”, seven doubles were filmed instead of him.
While performing stunts, he was often injured, which is why he was blacklisted by insurance companies around the world (during end credits his films usually feature failed takes and sometimes 1-2 injury scenes). The saddest consequences were on the set of “Armor of God” (1986), when, after falling from a tree, Chan received a severe traumatic brain injury and was literally on the verge of life and death. Also because Jackie often broke his right ankle, he was forced to use left leg during any jumps.
Over the years, Jackie repeatedly suffered a dislocated pelvis, broken fingers, toes, nose, cheekbones, hips, sternum, neck, ankles and ribs.
In 1995, MTV presented him with an award for overall achievement in cinema.
Real success came to Chan after the film “Rumble in the Bronx” in 1995. He became as guaranteed a box-office hitter as Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh. Other works also received recognition from the audience - “First Strike”, “Stormbreaker”, “Shanghai Noon”.
The animated series “The Adventures of Jackie Chan” was a success, where Jackie answered questions from fans after each episode.
In September 2011, Chan's 100th film, 1911, was released.
In July 2012, at the San Diego Comic-Con International festival, Jackie Chan expressed his interest in participating in the action film The Expendables 3.
Chan is also known as a successful pop artist; since 1984 he has released over 100 songs on 20 albums. He sings in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and English. He also often sings the title songs for his films, but these songs tend to be replaced when films are released in Europe and the United States.
He is widely known for his charitable activities and is involved in many different projects. Often acts as a goodwill ambassador in various actions, for example, against ill-treatment with animals, helping victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or floods in mainland China. In June 2006, he announced that he would bequeath half of his fortune to charity. In 2003, he advocated for the United Buddy Bears exhibition, whose participants advocate for world peace, to come to Hong Kong in 2004. During the opening of the exhibition, Chan presented UNICEF and two other children's organizations with a check totaling HK$4.14 million.
Chan has stars on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong and the Avenue of Stars in Hollywood, as well as on Old Arbat in Moscow. Many books have been written about Chan. The latest project is “The Jackie Chan Chronicles,” a fantasy book by writer Vasily Moskalenko, the author of which received permission from the actor himself.
Personal life of Jackie Chan:
Married to Taiwanese actress Lin Fengjiao (Lam Fungyu in dialect). The autobiography indicates 1983, but many sources indicate the date December 1, 1982. On December 3, 1982 (1984 is indicated in Chan's autobiography), their son Chan Zuoming (Jaycee Chan 房祖名 - actor, singer) was born.
Chan also has a daughter, Etta Wu Zhuolin (Ng Choeklam, born November 19, 1999), from an extramarital affair with actress Elaine Wu Qili. However, Jackie does not officially recognize her as his daughter.
Jackie is a Buddhist.
In 2009, Chan received an honorary doctorate from a university in Cambodia.
Filmography of Jackie Chan:
1962 - Big and small Wong Tin Bar 大小黄天霸 child
1963 - Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai 梁山伯與祝英台/The Love Eterne extras
1964 - The Story of Qin Xianglian 秦香蓮 child
1966 - Have a drink with me, child
1966 - Seven Little Tigers 兩湖十八鏢(上集) child
1966 - Seven Little Tigers 2 兩湖十八鏢(下集) child
1970 - Girl of Steel 荒江女俠 beggar child
1971 - Merciless Blade 刀不留人 warrior of the prince in the forest
1971 - Stormy River 鬼怒川 guard
1971 - A Touch of Zen 俠女 child
1972 - Fist of Fury 精武門 student Japanese school martial arts (extras)/master Suzuki (understudy Riki Hashimoto)
1972 - Bloody Fingers 唐人客 bandit crawling on the floor
1972 - Hapkido 合氣道 student of the Black Bear School
1972 - Stranger in Hong Kong 香港過客 robber
1973 - Ambush 埋伏 archer
1973 - Fist of Vengeance 頂天立地 Shi Ze
1973 - Unicorn Palm 麒麟掌 bandit
1973 - Hercules of the East 碼頭大決鬥 bandit
1973 - Facets of Love 北地胭脂 Xiao Liu
1973 - Showdown in Hong Kong 女警察 gang leader
1973 - Heroine 鐵娃 Japanese bandit
1973 - Awakened Energy 石破天驚 man beating a woman
1973 - Exit of the Dragon 龍爭虎鬥 guard in Han's underground base
1973 - Little Tiger of Kwantung 廣東小老虎 Xiao Hu
1973 - Fist to fist 除霸 guard
1974 - Tiger Village 惡虎村 bandit
1974 - Golden Lotus 金瓶雙艷 Yun, Pear Seller
1975 - All in the Family 花飛滿城春 Xiao Tang / rickshaw driver
1975 - There is no end to surprises 拍案驚奇 Secretary Chen
1975 - Himalayan 密宗聖手 Mr. Zeng's man
1976 - New Fist of Fury 新精武門之精武拳 Lung
1976 - Hand of Death 少林門 Tan Feng
1976 - Killer Meteor 風雨雙流星 Wa Wubin / Tiger
1976 - Wooden Soldiers of Shaolin 少林木人巷 Silent
1977 - Kill with intrigue 劍花煙雨江南 Kao Li
1978 - Snake in the Eagle's Shadow 蛇形刁手 Chien Fu
1978 - The Art of Shaolin: Snake and Crane 蛇鶴八步 Xin Yinfung
1978 - Magnificent Bodyguards 飛渡捲雲山 Lord Ting Chang
1978 - Drunken Master 醉拳 Huang Feihong
1978 - Spiritual Kung Fu 拳精 Yulan
1979 - Fearless Hyena 笑拳怪招 Shin Long
1979 - Dragon Fist 龍拳 Tang Hauyuan
1979 - Master with Broken Fingers 刁手怪招 Lung
1980 - Young Master 帥弟出馬 Dragon / Master Long
1980 - A Little Kung Fu 一招半式闖江湖 Master Chan
1980 - The Big Brawl / 殺手壕 Jerry Kwan
1981 - The Cannonball Run Jackie Chan, Subaru driver
1982 - Squad with a fantastic mission 迷你特攻隊 Sammy
1982 - Dragon Lord 龍少爺 Dragon Hou
1983 - Fearless Hyena 2 龍騰虎躍 Shin Long
1983 - Winners and Sinners 奇謀妙計五福星 policeman No. 7086
1983 - Project "A" A計劃 Sergeant Dragon Ma Yulong
1984 - Pom Pom 神勇雙響炮 policeman on a motorcycle
1984 - Cannonball Run 2 Jackie Chan, Mitsubishi mechanic
1984 - Snack Bar 快餐車 Thok Masi
1985 - My Lucky Stars 福星高照 Muscles
1985 - Patron The Protector / 威龍猛探 policeman Billy Vaughn
1985 - My Lucky Stars 2 夏日福星 Muscles
1985 - Heart of the Dragon 龍的心 police officer Ah Tat
1985 - Police Story 警察故事 Inspector Chan Kakhoi
1986 - Naughty guys 扭計雜牌軍 prisoner
1987 - Armor of God 龍兄虎弟 Jackie Condor “Asian Hawk”
1987 - Project “A” 2 A計劃續集 Dragon Ma Yulong
1988 - Dragons Forever 飛龍猛將 Jackie Long Yeokhon
1988 - Police Story 2 警察故事續集 Inspector Chan Kakhoi
1989 - The Godfather from Hong Kong 奇蹟 Kuok Chanwa
1990 - Island of Fire 火燒島 Da Chui
1991 - Armor of God 2: Operation Condor 飛鷹計劃 Jackie Condor "Asian Hawk"
1992 - Guy from Tibet 西藏小子 passenger at the airport
1992 - Dragon Twins 雙龍會 Ma Yau / Wan Ming
1992 - Police Story 3: Super Cop 警察故事III超級警察 Inspector Chan Kakhoi
1993 - City Hunter 城市獵人 Rio Saeba "City Hunter"
1993 - Crime Story 重案組 Inspector Eddie Chan Pongpan
1993 - Project C 超級計劃 Chan Kakhoi
1994 - Drunken Master 2 醉拳II Wong Feihong
1995 - Showdown in the Bronx Rumble In The Bronx / 紅番區 Khyun
1995 - Thunderbolt 霹靂火 Chan Foim
1996 - First Strike 警察故事4之簡單任務 Inspector Chan Kakhoi
1997 - Mister Cool 一個好人 Jackie
1997 - Burn Hollywood Burn An Alan Smithee Film Burn Hollywood Burn as himself
1998 - Who am I? Who am I? / Lee
1998 - Rush Hour Inspector Lee
1998 - Mulan Mulan captain Li Shang
1999 - Magnificent 玻璃樽 Chan Chi-eun
1999 - King of Comedy
1999 - Future Police 特警新人類 fisherman
2000 - Shanghai Noon Shanghai Noon Chong Wong
2001 - Accidental Spy 特務迷城 Bak Yen
2001 - Rush Hour 2 Rush Hour 2 Inspector Lee
2002 - Tuxedo The Tuxedo Jimmy Tong
2003 - Shanghai Knights Shanghai Knights Chong Wong
2003 - The Medallion Eddie Young
2003 - Gemini 千機變 Jackie, ambulance driver
2004 - Operation Phoenix 大佬愛美麗 Mr. Chan
2004 - Around the World in 80 Days Around the World in 80 Days Passepartout/Lau Shin
2004 - Huadu Chronicles: Rose Blade 千機變 II – 花都大戰 Lord of Armor
2004 - New Police Story 新警察故事 Chang Gwokwin
2005 - Myth 神話 General Meng Yi
2006 - Rob-B-Hood 寶貝計劃 “Scourge”
2007 - Rush Hour 3 Rush Hour 3 Chief Inspector Lee
2008 - The Forbidden Kingdom Taoist Lu Yan/Hu, owner of a pawn shop with discs
2008 - Kung Fu Panda Kung Fu Panda Master Monkey
2009 - Shinjuku Incident 新宿事件 "Iron Zhao"
2009 - Finding Jackie 尋找成龍 (plays himself)
2009 - Founding of China 建國大業 interviewer Li Jishen
2010 - The Spy Next Door Bob Ho
2010 - Big Soldier 大兵小將 Big Soldier
2010 - The Karate Kid Mr. Khan"
2010 - The Legend of Silkboy 世博冠軍湖絲仔 Xi Ronkun
2011 - Shaolin 新少林寺 Wu Dao
2011 - Fall last empire辛亥革命 Huang Xing
2011 - Kung Fu Panda 2 Kung Fu Panda 2 Master Monkey
2012 - Armor of God: Zodiac Mission 十二生肖 JC "Hawk"
2013 - Police Story 4 警察故事2013 Zhuang Zhou
2015 - Dragon Sword 天将雄狮 warlord Ho An
2016 - Kung Fu Panda 3 Kung Fu Panda 3 Master Monkey
2016 - On the Trail of Skiptrace Benny Black
2016 - Rush Hour 4 Rush Hour 4 Chief Inspector Lee
2016 - Viy 2. Travel to China.
In the world of the film industry there are many famous and talented actors. Some people stand out from the general background of Hollywood cinema, while others do not. But there is a world-class star that is simply impossible not to recognize. This is Jackie Chan, an actor who conquered Hong Kong, China and America, known in every corner of the globe.
At first glance, it is quite difficult to determine how old Jackie Chan is, since he has conquered more than one generation of hearts. Let's get to know him better. Jackie was born on April 7, 1954. His parents Li-Li Chan and Charles Chan, refugees from the mainland, settled in Hong Kong. At birth, Jackie was given a name that means "born in Hong Kong." A few years later, his parents moved to Australia in search of work, and he was sent to study at famous school Peking Opera.
When asked by journalists how old Jackie Chan was when his parents left him, the actor proudly answers: “Six!” It was from this age that his training in acting began, which he mastered at the traditional Chinese school of Nanhua. Until the age of 16, Jackie studied philosophy and the basics of martial arts. The strictest discipline that existed in educational institution, acrobatics and dance classes yielded results. Accustomed to studying sixteen to seventeen hours a day, young Jackie began to achieve extraordinary creative results.
After graduating from school, Chan was accepted into a group of stuntmen who starred in small films. Through short time Having gained fame for his stunts, he began to play not only understudy roles, but also secondary ones. How many years did it take Jackie Chan for his school skills to serve him well?
Once upon a time, producer John Woo needed a trained young man to film the super action movie “The Hand of Death.” And his choice was the young Jackie Chan! Thus began the acting career of the legendary stuntman.
Very little is known about him. How many years has Jackie Chan been able to hide his family from curious journalists, and only he knows what it cost him. Only 5 years after the marriage this fact became known. And, of course, very few people know that the actor has a son, whose birth he hid for thirteen years. The actor himself explains this by not wanting to injure thousands of charming fans.
Jackie is still working not only as an actor and stuntman, but also writes scripts, directs and produces his own films for many years now. 2012 brought a new wave of fame to Jackie Chan. A film like “Armor of God 3: Mission Zodiac” left no one indifferent.
More and more often, the actor thinks about what will happen when he can no longer perform stunts. As he himself says, he will star in other films. The famous stuntman hopes to find a replacement for himself in the younger generation and teach others everything he knows.
Now calculate how old Jackie Chan is now? At 59 years old, he is full of strength and energy. Let's wish greatest actor of all times, a fearless stuntman who won the hearts of millions of viewers, many years of his professional activity, so that films with his participation will amaze us with their stunts more than once!
Jackie Chan
Hong Kong, Chinese and American actor, stuntman, film director, producer, screenwriter, stunt and action choreographer, singer.
Born Chen Gangsheng, which means "born in Hong Kong"; sometimes also referred to as Chan Kunsan / Chan Kong-sang (Cantonese transcription of the name Chen Gansheng) and Fan Shilong (original family name, returned many years after birth).
Filmed under the pseudonyms: Jackie Chan, Jackie Chan with a Baseball Bat, Yuan Lung Chan, Yuen-Lung Chan, Lung Chen, Long Cheng, Wellson Chin, Sing Lung.
There is nothing unusual in the touching attitude of the parents of the newborn Jackie to their hometown. In 1954, when this significant event occurred in the Chiang family, Hong Kong was an amazing piece of freedom in the vast field of Communist China. And to the parents future star, who just recently with difficulty broke through from a large but bad homeland to a small but good one, wanted to capture gratitude in the most precious thing they have - in the name own son.
When Jackie Chan was six years old, his parents went to work in Australia, where they got a job at the French (or American) embassy as a cook and maid. They took the boy with them and then sent him back. From six to sixteen years old, Jackie Chan was a student at a closed school, where he mastered the traditional Chinese program with all his might. acting, philosophy and martial arts. The discipline in this educational institution was the most severe. Classes are sixteen to seventeen hours long. But this is precisely where one should look for the starting point of his career. One day, a certain producer needed a well-trained boy to film an action film...
And now Jackie Chan is an actor who has played roles in fifty films. A director who has directed a dozen films. His track record includes such hits as “Police Story” and “Armor of God” (both in several parts), “Rumble in the Bronx” and “Operation A”, “Island of Fire” and “City Hunter”. Finally, Jackie Chan is a man, confident and courageous, with a victorious cry of “Ya-ya-ya!” burst into Hollywood, which, in general, does not like strangers.
But let's go back a little. So, the moment came when Hong Kong Born changed his name and became Sing Lung, which literally means “Become a Dragon.” He was already about twenty. Jackie Chan managed to act in extras and worked as a stuntman. Then John Wu, a director and friend of Bruce Lee, invited Jackie as a stunt foreman.
Of course, the young man admired the legendary Bruce. And a legend gives birth to a legend. How could Jackie Chan not use this rule?!
For a long time the question about true character relationship with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan answered with truly Asian evasiveness. From his answers, one could equally well conclude that, despite the fact that fate brought these two fighters together on the set more than once, they hardly knew each other, except to say hello. And also, with no less certainty, the conclusion that Bruce Lee saw in Jackie Chan, and only in him alone, his spiritual heir. It is no coincidence that this name appeared - Become a Dragon! After all, fans and journalists called Bruce the Dragon.
Be that as it may, in Jackie Chan’s creative biography, it was after the death of the legendary Bruce Lee that a sensitive break arose, which almost forced the young actor to leave cinema. This can't be an accident, can it?..
But over time, Jackie became more restrained and more definite in his statements about the Dragon. “Yes,” he says, “Bruce and I were in the same company. And although I cannot fully consider myself his heir, I can definitely be called his follower. I follow him, although my path is different.”
Jackie Chan can now afford to say so, because his name all over the world, and especially in Asia, has eclipsed the name of Bruce himself, and his films are making box office receipts that the mysteriously deceased Dragon never dreamed of. He is in an exceptional position today. Evidence of this, for example, is the dialogue that took place between him and journalists. “How did you end up in the Hollywood project “An Alan Smiyhee Film”, which seems not the most typical for Jackie Chan? - they ask him. “Yes, when they offered me this idea, I didn’t like it at all,” he answers with some laziness, “but then Stallone called me...” “Did he call you personally?” - the journalist shows distrust. “Well, of course,” Jackie was surprised and even slightly offended. “He’s mine.” good friend. He told me: “Let’s do it after all,” and I agreed.”
Times are changing. Now Jackie Chan, without the risk of seeming like a ridiculous upstart, can calmly say that he would love to work with Cameron, Spielberg or Tarantino.
But he cannot completely forget Bruce Lee, stop mentioning his name or speaking arrogantly about him, otherwise there will be one less secret. He is also a Dragon. But not the second one, but the other one.
Does Jackie Chan have a personal life? Perhaps now this question sounds absurd. But just recently it was very relevant. Just imagine - for many years this most popular man in Hong Kong managed to hide not only his love affairs, but even that he is married! And this despite the constant persecution of journalists, all this spying, eavesdropping, probing. Of course, rumors regarding the actor’s personal life appeared periodically. But no matter how close they were to the truth or, on the contrary, absurd, Jackie always remained deathly silent. Only five years after his marriage did the general public learn that her favorite was family man. And after some time it was possible to establish that his wife was Taiwanese actress Lin Fen-Zhao. But that's something else! He hid the existence of his own son for thirteen years! Conspiracy! Stirlitz is resting! And if after the “exposure” with his wife Jackie Chan tried to joke that he was afraid of a wave of suicides among disappointed fans, then after the “presentation” of his son it became clear: the actor is guided by a desire that is quite natural in his position - to protect the peace of his loved ones from the excessive attention of strangers . As you can see, he succeeded quite well in this for a long time. And, what is also very curious, this position of Jackie Chan ultimately caused not irritation, but respect: his family was really left alone for several years.
“Isn’t it difficult for you to do your own tricks?” Jackie Chan is often asked. “After all, you are over forty!” “Yes, of course, the reaction now is not the same as before. But in my youth I had such a good school that it still allows me to stay in shape.”
“The most terrible injury, which almost killed me, I received while performing an unremarkable stunt on the set of the film “Armor of God.” The filming took place in Yugoslavia, I flew there for twenty hours, and my daily biorhythm was disrupted. The stunt was very simple: jump from the castle wall to the tree below. The trick turned out perfect the first time. But there was something about it that didn’t suit me. When I jumped the second time, I couldn’t catch the branch. If he was standing below. If I didn’t move away, I would have fallen right on top of him, but perhaps then we would have gotten away with bruises. And so I hit my head on the ground, and one of the bones crashed into the brain. People immediately rushed to the phone. trying to find a clinic where they could perform the operation. Eight hours later I was already under anesthesia, everything went well and I recovered quite quickly, however, now there is a hole in my head, sealed with a plastic plug."
Jackie Chan's medical record must be as thick as War and Peace. You just wonder how he’s actually alive?! As soon as he didn’t cripple himself, he didn’t break anything! "Police Story" almost made him a paralytic - two vertebrae were broken. I broke my nose three times. He suffered knee injuries so often that he doubts whether there is even one intact bone left in him. I broke my ankle while filming Rumble in the Bronx. Doctors forbade stepping on the cast leg. But we had to continue filming. And then he returned to the set, and pulled a white sock onto his swollen sore foot, coloring it to match the sneaker. Once Jackie Chan almost suffocated, injuring his throat. I almost lost my eye when I cut my eyebrow. Another time during filming, due to someone’s fault, his “enemy” was given a sharp sword. He hit Jackie on the hand. Blood sprayed. Jackie Chan screamed in pain, and the cameraman continued filming, thinking that everything was going according to plan.
IN recent years no insurance company would risk entering into a contract with Mr. Chan. Too many of these companies went bankrupt paying for the actor’s crippled arms and legs. And if you were the insurers, would you decide to take responsibility for the health of a person who constantly jumps from many meters in height, throws himself under wheels, exposes his body to all kinds of bladed weapons and firearms?!
And yet, sooner or later there will come a time when Jackie Chan will not be able to do the trick. What then? “Perhaps I will act in other films,” he calmly reasons. “In addition, I hope to find a talented young actor, whom I will teach everything that I can do. I followed Bruce Lee. I hope that someone will follow him.” me".
What does it say on his business card? Well, apparently, the answer is simple: Jackie Chan, actor, director, producer, screenwriter.
But if you wish, you could write many more things: owner of his own studio, honorary doctor of several universities, plenipotentiary representative of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, author of four films included in the “hot ten of Hong Kong of the century”, honorary citizen of Seoul, activist of animal protection organizations, owner of a chain of restaurants, etc., etc.
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Jackie Chan is well known and loved by many for his action-comedy films in which he plays the leading roles. Almost everyone knows that he comes up with his own tricks, choreographs them and performs them. The shots where he was replaced by doubles can be counted on one hand.
The early years of the future actor can hardly be called easy or joyful. The problems started from his birth. The child was late: the mother was 38 years old. The baby was born very large, even too large. Its weight was 5400 g. And that’s all early childhood Chan was quite large and plump, for which he was nicknamed Pao-Pao (cannonball).
Jackie was a big boy growing up
My parents lived poorly and often did not have a job. Jackie's father worked as a cook, and her mother worked as a maid. The parents even owed the obstetrician for the birth. The father wanted to leave the child to the doctor to pay off the debt for services. But the obstetrician did not agree, and the parents had to pay him the debt for a long time.
When Jackie was 6 years old, his parents moved to Australia because they were offered a good salary by those standards. They left the boy at the Beijing Opera School. There was a strict regime here: getting up at 5, even on weekends and holidays. Then there are a lot of activities. Both general: learning to read, write, etc., and special: practicing facial expressions, gestures, singing, stagecraft. In addition, acrobatics and martial arts were taught. Only words of praise were used as encouragement. But an extensive system of punishments for disobedience, offenses, violations of discipline and regime was thought out: from canings to punishment cells.
At first it was difficult for the plump and clumsy Chan, but then he got used to it and even began to like it. When his father visited him 2 years later, Jackie said that he would like to stay here forever. And, in general, the boy was not mistaken when he chose his place of study. It was here that he learned everything necessary for an actor, began to skillfully use facial expressions and gestures, became interested in kung fu, developed his abilities, and became disciplined and purposeful. And he also received his first roles while studying at an opera school. The first time he acted in a movie was when he was 8 years old. For this he even received a small fee, which, of course, his father took. By the age of 10, Jackie had starred in 25 films. These were various episodic roles.
At the age of 17, Chan left opera school because he realized that he had already grown out of it, that he had enough skill, and it was time for him to move on. He almost immediately got a job at the Shaw Brothers film company, where he worked as a stuntman. At first he performed small stunts and played cameo roles, but his talent was quickly noticed. And in 1971, he received his first leading role in the film “The Master with Broken Fingers.” This film did not bring much success or popularity to the novice actor, but it gave some impetus to development.
In 1973, Chan entered into a contract with the company that made Bruce Lee's films. He becomes part of the stunt team involved in the filming of the film “Fist of Fury”. Here he performs several difficult stunts, participates in staged fights and falls from the greatest height in the history of cinema (at that time). Chan works with such masters as Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung and Bolo Yeung. The stuntman learns a lot from them and learns a lot of new things.
In the same year, Chan starred in the film Enter the Dragon, where he also performed complex stunts and sometimes even doubled for Bruce Lee. He gets 2 nicknames: "Bruce Lee's best shadow" and "become a dragon" (Sing Lung).
After the death of Bruce Lee, director Lo Wei signed a contract with Jackie Chan to shoot several films in which the actor was to play the main roles. The scripts were written for Bruce Lee. The main characters were focused fighters. But none of the 6 films in which Chan starred were successful. Only “Meteor Killer”, released in 1976, is more or less memorable, and even then the actor made a number of changes to the original script.
After several unsuccessful films, Chan decided to take a break, at the same time fly to Australia to visit his parents and learn English language which he didn't know at all. In the new country he had to do physical labor. At first he worked as a dishwasher, then got a job in construction. To make it easier to communicate with the crew, Chan decided to call himself Jack, because the Australian workers could not pronounce him correctly Chinese name. However, at the same construction site there was another Jack, who was both older and larger. Therefore, to avoid confusion, Chan began to be called “little Jack.” The nickname eventually morphed into the simple "Jackie". That’s what they called him later at the construction site.
After some time, Jackie decided to return to Hong Kong. He works with Lo Wei again, but the films are again unsuccessful. Then Jackie decides to change the director. Together with a new screenwriter, Chen Zeng, they decide to change the image of the main character. From a focused fighter, Chan turns into a simple-minded guy. The stories become lighter and humorous. The first joint film, “Snake in the Shadow of the Eagle,” was released in 1978 and was more successful than the works filmed together with Lo Wei. Here Jackie is not trying to be like Bruce Lee, he can make his own acting decisions. This is where humorous talent begins to reveal itself.
The next film, “Drunken Master,” can be called a real breakthrough. Here Jackie manages to fully reveal her talent: as an actor, comedian, stuntman and martial artist. Main role this movie brings Chan fame and popularity.
In 1979, after the completion of filming “Fearless Hyena,” the actor finally broke his contract with Lo Wei. However, the director was not so simple; he communicated closely with the triad, and Jackie almost paid with his life for the early termination of the collaboration. In order not to fear for his life, he moves to Taiwan. Here he is filming the film “Lord of the Dragon.” And sets a Guinness record for the number of takes needed to shoot 1 frame. According to the plan, the hero of the film must hit a 2-inch target with a small ball from a distance of 6 m. To shoot this shot, it took 2 days of filming, in total 1600 takes were shot.
After another success, Jackie goes to America. Here he shoots 2 films. He learns a lot about special effects, combining acting and graphics, etc. And, although successful films did not work out, Chan was not upset: he learned a lot of new things. And here he was noticed by Raymond Chow and Leonard Ho. They paid a ransom for him to Lo Wei. Thanks to their generosity, Jackie was able to return to Hong Kong without fear of persecution by the triad.
In 1984, the film “Project A” was released. This film can be called a breakthrough. It is here that Jackie Chan finds his signature style: a lot of stunts, choreographed fights, funny situations. Jackie departed from the traditional idea of kung fu films. In this film, Chan performs all the stunts on his own, even falling from the tower. He is ready to work endlessly on each episode, achieving the perfect result. For example, he fell from 50 feet 3 times without a safety net to create a natural sequence.
A lot of stuntmen were needed to film Project A. Jackie had problems with personnel: he could not recruit a group. Then he came up with a simple and ingenious solution. He created his own stunt group. He worked with her in the following films. The relatively constant composition of the group allows us to develop and stage more complex productions, to work through and accumulate material. Chan talks in detail about the work of stuntmen in the film “How I Do My Stunts.”
Then Chan tries his hand at the USA again, but again unsuccessfully. After the film “The Protector,” he returns home again and begins working on films in the style and genre that he chose for himself. He literally catches the courage. And he shoots masterpiece after masterpiece: “Police Story”, two parts of “Armor of God”, etc. in the early 1990s, Jackie became the recognized king of Hong Kong cinema.
After “Project A” and “Police Story,” Chan had problems with insurance companies: no one wanted to take risks, and all organizations unanimously refused the actor, because he performed all the dangerous stunts himself and was often injured varying degrees gravity. However, this did not stop the actor: he continued to invent and perform more and more complex elements.
Around this time, Jackie comes up with another brilliant idea. He loses a huge amount of film with unsuccessful ones, but often funny shots. You can still edit a film out of them. Almost no one watches the credits after the film, but they take time, film, and budget. How to make them interesting? And he decides that he needs to combine the failed shots and credits. And it works.
Certainly, American companies They couldn’t lose sight of such a competitor on the one hand and such a gold mine on the other. And in 1994, the film company New Line Cinema bought the rights to Chan's next film. True, no one yet knew what kind of movie it would be. However, the film company pulls out a lucky ticket, because Jackie begins filming Rumble in the Bronx. This was his 3rd attempt to conquer Hollywood. And he finally gave up. On the very first day, “Rumble in the Bronx” collected huge sums, and in a week – $10,000,000, which was a record at that time.
Immediately after the release of Rumble in the Bronx, the film company Miramax Film signed a contract with Jackie for 2 films. And she is even luckier, because Chan is filming one of his best works, Rush Hour. And then – “Rush Hour 2”. This comedy breaks all records and collects an amount unimaginable at that time - $200,000,000! After these films, absolutely the whole world learned who Jackie Chan was. Genuine world fame came to him.
After this, Chan became the recognized king of stunts and action comedies. And to this day no one can compare with him. The actor's calling card is performing most of his stunts independently, as well as showing the funniest moments in the credits. Viewers eagerly await the release of each new film.
After the phenomenal success of the films Rush Hour 1, 2, Jackie did not rest on his laurels. He continued filming and filming. He continues to work in his genre. And at the same time he is not afraid to experiment. He films both continuations of the stories of films that have already been filmed for a long time (Part 3 of “Armor of God”, “Rush Hour 3”), and creates new stories (“The Karate Kid”). He collaborates with other stars, such as Jet Li, and collaborates with both Chinese and American film companies. By 2016, Chan had appeared in 114 films.
In addition to actively participating in filming, Jackie Chan manages to engage in many other activities. So, he voices cartoons. The animated series “The Adventures of Jackie Chan” was very popular, where the actor answered questions from young viewers after each episode. He also voices Master Monkey in the cartoon Kung Fu Panda throughout all 3 parts.
Jackie Chan is also known as a singer. The education received at the opera school still has an effect. On at the moment the actor has already released 20 albums. In total - more than 100 songs. Moreover, he sings not only in his native Chinese and its dialects, but also in Japanese and English. He started singing in 1984. His songs are used as soundtracks for many of his films. However, in films released for the USA and Europe, songs are often replaced with more familiar ones. musical themes for a Western viewer.
Jackie is also involved in charity work: he regularly donates significant sums to children's funds or for victims of natural disasters. He bequeathed half of his fortune to charitable organizations.
Jackie Chan does not advertise his relationships. Therefore, the paparazzi have long despaired of catching him in any kind of romance. In addition, the actor is married to Lin Fengjiao, an actress from Taiwan. They have a son named Chen Zuming, better known by his pseudonym Jaycee Chan. He followed in his father's footsteps: he became an actor and singer. However, it is difficult to call Jackie an exemplary family man, because he has an illegitimate daughter, Etta Wu Zholin.
Despite his advanced age (62 years), Chan continues to choreograph and perform complex stunts and actively act in films. In 2016, 2 films with his participation were released: “On the Trail” and “Foreigner”. Not long ago he mentioned that he wants to shoot the 4th part of the film “Rush Hour”, where he will again play Inspector Lee. However, nothing more concrete has been announced so far.