Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was born "Kong-sang Chan" on Hong Kong's famous Victoria Peak on April 7, 1954. Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, filmmaker, comedian, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer, stunt performer and one of the most popular film personalities in the world. At the age of seven Chan was enrolled in the Chinese Opera Research Institute, he spent the next decade in rigorous training for a career with the Peking Opera, excelling in martial arts and acrobatics. Billed as Cheng Lung, Chan entered films in his mid-teens, appearing in 25 productions before his 20th birthday. Starting out as a stunt man, Chan was promoted to stardom as the potential successor to the late Bruce Lee. Chan decided that rather than emulating Lee (and thus living forever in his shadow), he would develop his own style of filmmaking. Chan first scored a major breakthrough in Hong Kong with the hit Jui kuen (1978) a.k.a. "Drunken Master" which has become a cult favorite amongst martial arts film fans. His directorial debut Shi di chu ma (1980) a.k.a. "The Young Master" was a milestone in martial arts films, being one of the first to effectively combine comedy with action. This set the tone for many of his future films, which combined slapstick humor with high-energy martial arts action. A self-confessed fan of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, Chan performs all his own stunts, quite often at his own peril. His later films include outtakes of his on-set injuries run under the closing credits. Chan's success in the North American market and Hollywood started in 1995 with a worldwide release of Rumble in the Bronx. Chan's inspiring life story and career is one based on hardwork, enthusiasm and determination.