ACTOR · BORN 1954
Jackie Chan
- Born
- 7 April 1954, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
- Known for
- Around the World in 80 Days (2004), The Tuxedo (2002), Jui kuen II (1994), Karate Kid: Legends (2025)
75 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Jackie Chan (born 7 April 1954) is an actor best known for Around the World in 80 Days, The Tuxedo and Jui kuen II.
Jackie Chan over the years
75 Interesting Facts About Jackie Chan
Interesting Facts (17)
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Referring to his participation in the torch relay for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Chan spoke out against demonstrators who disrupted the relay several times attempting to draw attention to a wide-ranging number of grievances against the Chinese government. He warned that "publicity seekers" planning to stop him from carrying the Olympic Torch "not get anywhere near" him. Chan also argued that China was attempting reform and that the Olympics coverage that year would be a chance for the country to learn from the outside world.
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During a news conference in Shanghai on 28 March 2004, Chan referred to the recently concluded Republic of China 2004 presidential election in Taiwan, in which Democratic Progressive Party candidates Chen Shui-bian and Annette Lu were re-elected as President and Vice-President, as "the biggest joke in the world". A Taiwanese legislator and senior member of the DPP, Parris Chang, called for the government of Taiwan to ban his films and bar him the right to visit Taiwan. Police and security personnel separated Chan from scores of protesters shouting "Jackie Chan, get out" when he arrived at Taipei airport in June 2008.
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Has played seven characters more than once in the movies: Wong fei-Hung from Drunken Master films, Asian Hawk from Armour of God films, Monkey voice from Kung Fu Panda films, Lee from Rush Hour films, Chan Ka Kui from Police Story films, Dragon Ma Yue Lung from 'A' gai wak films and Muscles from Lucky Stars films.
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Production Story (12)
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His first major breakthrough was film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), shot while he was loaned to Seasonal Film Corporation under a two-picture deal. Director Yuen Woo-Ping allowed Chan complete freedom over his stunt work. The film established the comedic kung-fu genre, and proved refreshing to the Hong Kong audience. Chan then starred in Drunken Master (1978), which finally propelled him to mainstream success. Upon Chan's return to Wei Lo's studio, Lo tried to replicate the comedic approach of Drunken Master (1978), producing Half a Loaf of Kung Fu (1978) and Spiritual Kung Fu (1978). He also gave Chan the opportunity to co-direct The Fearless Hyena (1979) with Kenneth Tsang. When Willie Chan left the company, he advised Jackie to decide for himself whether or not to stay with Wei Lo. During the shooting of Fearless Hyena 2 (1983), Chan broke his contract and joined Golden Harvest, prompting Lo to blackmail Chan with triads, blaming Willie for his star's departure. The dispute was resolved with the help of fellow actor and director Jimmy Wang Yu, allowing Chan to stay with Golden Harvest.
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Was John Carpenter's first choice for the role of Wang Chi in Big Trouble in Little China (1986) but declined in order to concentrate on his career in Hong Kong.
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Behind the Scenes (11)
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According to his production diary on the official Shanghai Knights (2003) website, the producers of the film wanted to throw him a birthday party, but he asked them not to since his mother had recently died and Chinese tradition dictates that you should wait 3 to 12 months after a death to stop the mourning period. The producers threw the party anyway, and Chan did not object because, he said, "it is an important part of the American culture to celebrate birthdays".
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While he's classed as a martial artist, he has little formal training, and doesn't hold any formal belt for any style. The basis for his martial arts was Peking Opera which uses a more theatrical interpretation of martial arts and acrobatics. The fighting style he used during filming was a mix of different styles, primarily using Northern and traditional Kung-Fu as the base, then building on that with other fighting styles and slapstick to make the scene work is the most humorous way possible.
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His first major breakthrough was film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), shot while he was loaned to Seasonal Film Corporation under a two-picture deal. Director Yuen Woo-Ping allowed Chan complete freedom over his stunt work. The film established the comedic kung-fu genre, and proved refreshing to the Hong Kong audience. Chan then starred in Drunken Master (1978), which finally propelled him to mainstream success. Upon Chan's return to Wei Lo's studio, Lo tried to replicate the comedic approach of Drunken Master (1978), producing Half a Loaf of Kung Fu (1978) and Spiritual Kung Fu (1978). He also gave Chan the opportunity to co-direct The Fearless Hyena (1979) with Kenneth Tsang. When Willie Chan left the company, he advised Jackie to decide for himself whether or not to stay with Wei Lo. During the shooting of Fearless Hyena 2 (1983), Chan broke his contract and joined Golden Harvest, prompting Lo to blackmail Chan with triads, blaming Willie for his star's departure. The dispute was resolved with the help of fellow actor and director Jimmy Wang Yu, allowing Chan to stay with Golden Harvest.
Characters & Cast (9)
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While he's classed as a martial artist, he has little formal training, and doesn't hold any formal belt for any style. The basis for his martial arts was Peking Opera which uses a more theatrical interpretation of martial arts and acrobatics. The fighting style he used during filming was a mix of different styles, primarily using Northern and traditional Kung-Fu as the base, then building on that with other fighting styles and slapstick to make the scene work is the most humorous way possible.
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Jackie Chan personally holds two Guinness World Records that were awarded to him December 5, 2012. He holds the records of Most credits in one movie and Most stunts by a living actor. The first record was made by him with the movie Chinese Zodiac (2012) where he carried out 15 of the major creative movie-making roles for the film including Director, Producer, Actor, Fight Choreographer and Composer, breaking the previous record of 11 credits held by Robert Rodriguez.
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Easter Eggs & References (2)
Career & Awards (8)
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On 10 June 2012, he received the New York Asian Film Festival's Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation was made at a special event at New York's Lincoln Center. Jackie also participated in a Q&A session with Grady Hendrix, one of the founders of Subway Cinema, the organization that began and now co-presents the annual NYAFF. The evening concluded with a screening of Jackie's most recent film Chinese Zodiac (2012).
Life & Family (16)
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Referring to his participation in the torch relay for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Chan spoke out against demonstrators who disrupted the relay several times attempting to draw attention to a wide-ranging number of grievances against the Chinese government. He warned that "publicity seekers" planning to stop him from carrying the Olympic Torch "not get anywhere near" him. Chan also argued that China was attempting reform and that the Olympics coverage that year would be a chance for the country to learn from the outside world.
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In 2009, he was named an anti-drug ambassador by the Chinese government, actively taking part in anti-drug campaigns and supporting President Xi Jinping's declaration that illegal drugs should be eradicated, and their users punished severely. In 2014, when his own son Jaycee was arrested for cannabis use, he said that he was "angry", "shocked", "heartbroken" and "ashamed" of his son. He also remarked, "I hope all young people will learn a lesson from Jaycee and stay far from the harm of drugs. I say to Jaycee that you have to accept the consequences when you do something wrong.
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According to his production diary on the official Shanghai Knights (2003) website, the producers of the film wanted to throw him a birthday party, but he asked them not to since his mother had recently died and Chinese tradition dictates that you should wait 3 to 12 months after a death to stop the mourning period. The producers threw the party anyway, and Chan did not object because, he said, "it is an important part of the American culture to celebrate birthdays".
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In 2009, he was named an anti-drug ambassador by the Chinese government, actively taking part in anti-drug campaigns and supporting President Xi Jinping's declaration that illegal drugs should be eradicated, and their users punished severely. In 2014, when his own son Jaycee was arrested for cannabis use, he said that he was "angry", "shocked", "heartbroken" and "ashamed" of his son. He also remarked, "I hope all young people will learn a lesson from Jaycee and stay far from the harm of drugs. I say to Jaycee that you have to accept the consequences when you do something wrong.
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Related pages
- Mortal Kombat — Jackie Chan comes up in the facts on that page
- Prince of Persia: Warrior Within — Jackie Chan comes up in the facts on that page
- The Pacifier — Jackie Chan comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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