"Very difficult to understand American audience, what they like, what they don't like. Some movie I like very much, it doesn't work. Some movie I don't like, it gets big box office. Very difficult. "

Insurance Company Tells Chan to Take a Leap!

Jackie Chan is an actor, martial artist and stuntman. His is known for his fighting style, comic timing and use of weapons. Chan's medical record is so long and his daring so great that no life insurance company will cover him.

Chan is the son of Lee-Lee and Charles Chan who moved from China to Canberra, Australia in 1960, during the Chinese civil war. His parents worked as servants for the French ambassador to Hong Kong. Chan's Chinese name at birth was Chan Kong-sang, which means "Born in Hong Kong." Throughout his life, Chan has known a variety of nicknames, including "Pao Pao." Later, while he studied at Peking Opera school, he was nicknamed Yuen Lo. Early in his career as a stuntman, he was known as Chen Yueng Lung, and eventually "Jackie," as he was named by his Australian co-workers in 1976. His father would wake Chan early in the morning to teach him kung fu; he believed that it built Chan's character. While in school, Chan prepared for a life in the Peking Opera. He practiced matial arts, acrobatics, and acting. The school had strict standards, and he rarely saw his parents.

Chan's acting career began at the age of eight in the Cantonese film "Seven Little Valiant Fighters: Big and Little Wong Tin Bar." At the age of 17, Chan gained the reputation in Hong Kong as being a fearless and inventive athlete who would try anything, and was in high demand. However, the Hong Kong movie industry began to fail, and Chan moved to Australia to live with his parents. He got a construction job, but was very unhappy. His salvation came from Willie Chan, who saw Chan at work as a stuntman and was impressed. Willie soon became Jackie's best friend and manager. Willie introduced Chan to producer and director Lo Wei, and began making films.

It took Chan several years before he gained an American reputation. Rumble in the Bronx was Chan's way into the American film scene. Following, he released Rush Hour and the Shanghai Noon series, which put him on the Hollywood list.

Chan continues to work with the Hong Kong film industry, including work on the blockbuster drama New Police Story. He is now working in different genres of film besides action, including fantasy, drama, and romance. He devotes a lot of time to charities for children and elderly, and serves as an Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS.

Chan married Taiwanese actress Lin Feng-Jiao in 1982. The couple has one son, Jaycee Chan. In 1999, he published his autobiography I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action.