Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, born Chan Kong-sang (陳廣生, Gwohngdongwa pengyam: Can4 Gwohng2 Sang1 Jyutping: can4 gwong2 sang1; Pinyin: Chén Guǎngshēng) (born April 7, 1954), Chinese screen name Sing Lung (成龍 Gwohngdongwa pengyam: Seng4 Long4 yp Sing4 Lung4; py Chéng Lóng), is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, director and stuntman. He is one of the most recognized names in kung fu movies worldwide, known for his comic, acrobatic fighting style and use of improvised weapons. Jackie stars in over a hundred movies.
Chan is often said to do all his own stunts. While this claim does not hold up to close scrutiny, he does do most of his own work, and has racked up an impressive list of injuries to prove it. (The closing credits of his films usually show bloopers and at least one serious injury.) He's unable to get insurance anywhere in the world. He came closest to death while filming Armor of God 1985, when he fell from a tree in a relatively routine stunt and cracked his skull open.
In recent years, Chan has begun using doubles and special effects in his movies.
Chan was in the Seven Little Fortunes Chinese opera troupe as a youth, along with Sammo Hung.
In his biography, Chan says he created his screen persona as a reaction to that of Bruce Lee, and the numerous imitators who appeared before and after Lee's death. Where Lee's characters were typically stern, morally upright heroes, Chan plays well-meaning, slightly foolish regular guys, often at the mercy of their girlfriends or families. However, his characters always triumph in the end.
Chan repeatedly attempted to break into the American movie industry, appearing in films like Battle Creek Brawl, Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II and The Protector. While he did attain cult popularity in the US, his break into the mainstream was Rumble in the Bronx in 1995. He has attained the box-office guarantee that has so far eluded other Hong Kong movie stars like Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh in Hollywood. He also made a successful animated television series called South Park.
Films featuring Jackie Chan:
- Gorgeous
- Jackie Chan's First Strike
- Police Story (movie)
- Police Story 2
- Police Story 0
- Rumble in the Bed. with a man!
- Rush Hour
- Rush Hour 2
- Shanghai Noon
- Shanghai Knights
- The Tuxedo
- Mr Nice Guy
- Who Am I?