Del.icio.usJackie Chan
Chan is currently in production in China on the feature film, Forbidden Kingdom, co-starring Jet Li.
Born in Hong Kong in 1954, Chan was enrolled in the Peking Opera School at the age of 7, where he was trained in acrobatics, gymnastics, dance, singing, and drama. Upon graduation from the Academy, Chan found work hard to come by as the popularity of Chinese Opera dwindled. Like many of his schoolmates, Chan joined the movie world as an extra and an occasional stuntman. As his talent became obvious to producers and directors, he quickly moved up the ranks and was soon coordinating stunts in Hong Kong films. After the untimely death of Bruce Lee, Chan was groomed as a replacement for Lee, but rejected that idea when he realized that his own brand of humor and stunt work would be his ace in the hole. In 1978 he single-handedly changed the Hong Kong film industry by combining humor with clever stunt work in movies such as Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master.
In 1980 Chan directed his first film, Young Master, and its runaway success secured his future as a legend in the Hong Kong film industry. He then tried his hand at several American productions, but results were disappointing and he returned to Hong Kong. However, he took some of what he'd learned in America and applied it to Hong Kong film projects with brilliant results. Enamored of great comedic legends such as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, Chan created his own unique brand of physical comedy which was extremely successful in Asia and which became increasingly noticed by American moviegoers. After the success of 1995's Rumble in the Bronx, followed by the Rush Hour series, Shanghai Noon, and Shanghai Knights, Chan became a true international superstar.
Although he is well known for his work in front of the camera, Chan also has a long list of credits behind the scenes, working for many years as producer, director, and stunt-coordinator. In 2004 he began his own production company, Jackie Chan Emperor Movies, Ltd. He has been the recipient of countless awards for his work, including a recent Best Actor award for his dramatic role in 2004's New Police Story.
Known worldwide for his cinematic work, Chan has a side to him which is not as well known -- that of a philanthropist. In 1988 he founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in Hong Kong and since then has worked tirelessly for many and varied charitable causes. Most recently he has created the Dragon's Heart Foundation, which uses donations to build schools in poor and remote regions of China. When he is not filming, Chan travels to these areas to deliver supplies, supervise the planning of schools, and lend support to the children and their parents.
Chan's lifetime of devotion to the film industry has garnered him countless awards. He has been voted The World's Most Popular Movie Star by Time Magazine, been honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, had his handprints installed at Mann's Chinese Theater, received several honorary professorships, and has been the recipient of countless ambassadorships and film awards. His future plans include getting back to directing, trying his hand at more varied movie roles, and continuing his charity work. With the unending support of his fans from nearly every country in the world, Jackie Chan's illustrious career shows no signs of slowing down.
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Jackie Chan Facts
| Birth Name | Kong Sung Chan |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Birthday | April 7, 1954 (54) |
| Sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Hong Kong |
| Height | 5' 8" (1m73) |
| Awards | 2002 MTV Movie Awards: Best Fight (for Rush Hour 2) |
| 1999 MTV Movie Awards: Best On-Screen Duo (for Rush Hour) |
Selected Filmography
Bio courtesy New Line Cinema for "Rush Hour 3" (16-Sep-2007)