Jackie Chan, born in Hong Kong in 1954, has a film career spanning seven decades, and films featuring him have grossed over $6 billion worldwide.
Training and Breakthrough
Chan Kong-sang was born on 7 April 1954 and trained in acrobatics, martial arts and acting at the China Drama Academy as one of the Seven Little Fortunes. He began as a stuntman, and his breakthrough came with Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (1978), followed by Drunken Master (1978).
The Chan Style
Project A (1983) formed the Jackie Chan Stunt Team and established his mix of elaborate stunts, martial arts and slapstick. Rumble in the Bronx (1995) brought him to North American audiences, and Rush Hour (1998) made him a Hollywood name. For CZ12 (2012) he earned two Guinness World Records, including “Most Stunts Performed by a Living Actor”.
Honours and Voice Work
He received an honorary Academy Award in 2016 and has stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He voiced a character in the first three Kung Fu Panda films and played Mr. Han in The Karate Kid (2010) and Karate Kid: Legends (2025).
Music and Legacy
Chan is an operatically trained singer who has released several pop albums and performed theme songs for some of his films. He has also been referenced in songs, films and video games, and an award, the Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards, is named after him.
Image: Jackie Chan at San Diego Comic-Con, 12 July 2012 (file photo). Photo: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
