Jackie Chan Person in the World Biography Chan Kong-Sang Was Born in Hong Kong, on April 7, 1954

Jackie Chan Person in the world Biography Chan Kong-Sang was born in Hong Kong, on April 7, 1954. He spent the first six years of his life in the French embassy where his parents worked. His parents moved to Canberra, Australia as refugees from the Chinese Civil War. While living in Australia, Chan worked along side a man named Jack. All of the other workers called them Jack and little Jack (later changed to Jackie). In the 1970's Chan's movies and music became extremely popular in Asia, but could not succeed in North America. It was not until 1994 when Rumble in the Bronx was released in the USA that Jackie Chan became popular there. That movie was the first Hong Kong film to be number one in the box office and led the way for many other American movies starring him. Education Because Chan’s parents worked as a butler and a maid, they couldn’t afford to send him to good schools. He studied for ten years at the Peking Opera School, where he learned acrobatics and Shaolin Kung Fu. At the school he became a member of the “Seven Little Fortunes”. They were the top students of the school and would travel to western countries to perform and were also sent to work for the school as extras in movies. In school he made friends with Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. The three became co-stars early in Chan’s movie career. In addition to kung fu, he has also learned boxing, hapkido, judo, taekwondo and hei long. Though he was successful in his school and training, it was mostly physical. Jackie Chan has said that his biggest regret in life was not getting a proper education. Asian Movies Chan’s experience in school led him directly into becoming an extra in Hong Kong cinema. He was a stuntman for many movies including Enter the Dragon. However, after the death of Bruce Lee, the movie industry began to lose money and Chan had a difficult time finding work. At one point he worked in an adult movie called All in the Family which is the only movie where he does no stunts. Chan was invited to work for a movie director, Lo Wei, who wanted to find a young actor to be the next Bruce Lee. His movies were not very successful until 1978 when he was loaned to another studio who gave Chan creative freedom which led to his first hits; Snake in Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master. In the early 80’s Chan’s success in Asia grew and he formed the Jackie Chan Stunt Team who would work with him on every movie. Chan also began to appear in American movies like Cannonball Run and The Protector but his popularity in the US was not close to Asia. American Movies Despite being continuously successful in Asia, Jackie Chan could not break into the American movie industry until Rumble in the Bronx in 1994. After that many of his Asian movies were being played in American movie theatres. In 1998, Jackie Chan starred with Chris Tucker in the Rush Hour movies. He also had a Saturday morning cartoon series Jackie Chan Adventures. With his new cult popularity, he decided to try to play different characters in his movies. In 1999 he starred in a romantic comedy, Gorgeous. Also Chan had constantly turned down parts in popular movies like Demolition Man and Leathal Weapon 4 because he did not want to play a villain. Injuries Jackie Chan has been injured in most of his movies several times while performing his stunts. He has broken his nose, fingers, and toes many times. He had hurt his back so many times that when he was injured on the set of The Accidental Spy the doctor said that one more back injury could paralyse him. His worst injury was during Armour of God when Chan was performing a basic stunt, jumping from a wall onto a tree, but lost his grip and fell 12m. When his head hit the ground part of his skull broke and stuck into his brain. It took eight hours of surgery to save his life and today Chan has a permanent hole in his head with a plastic plug and small hearing loss in one ear. afford Asian Movies American Movies Rumble in the Bronx acrobatics -レッドブロンクス Vocabulary experience despite Shaolin Kung Fu Enter the Dragon directly continuously -燃えよドラゴン Biography Fortune stuntman cartoon Snake in Eagle’s Shadow French embassy extra -スネーキーモンキー蛇拳 include cult popularity refugee co-star Drunken Master However constantly (Chinese) Civil War In addition to -酔拳 movie industry Cannonball Run work along side turn down parts though At one point -キャノンボール extremely mostly Injuries The Protector invite box office physical injure -プロテクター loan Rush Hour starring several regret form -ラッシュアワー hurt his back Education proper popularity Accidental Spy paralyse -アクシデンタルスパイ education surgery The Armour Of God butler -サンダーアーム maid permanent 1) What Jackie Chan movies do you know? Which is your favourite? 2) Does Jackie Chan’s decision to not play villains in movies make him a better or worse actor? Why? 3) Who do think is a better martial artist/actor; Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee? Who would win in a fight? ご予約ください 06-4305-4730.

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