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(#1) His Mother Had Underworld Connections And His Father Was A Spy
Chan's parents both led lives they were forced to give up due to the outbreak of conflict in China. Filmmaker Mabel Cheung made an intriguing documentary about the Chan family, Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family, in which she unveiled revelations even Chan himself didn't know.
Cheung told The Guardian about some of the shocking things she uncovered:
The fact that his mother was an opium smuggler, a gambler, and a big sister in the underworld was a big shock to Jackie and also to us. Everybody in Hong Kong knew that his mother was like a common housewife, very kind, very gentle.
It was also revealed that Chan's dad, known to his son as Chan Chi-Long, was born Fang Daolang. He was a spy who met Chan's mother while arresting her for transporting substances.
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(#2) His Parents Were Refugees Who Had To Abandon Their Families
When he was born, Chan's parents were very poor. Once conflict broke out, they had to flee mainland China for Hong Kong. Before Chan's mother and father met, they had each been married. As revealed in the documentary Traces of a Dragon, it wasn't until years later that Chan discovered he had two maternal half-sisters and two paternal half-brothers.
Leaving their families behind, the Chans started again together and had their son; his birth name is Chan Kong-sang. He was a healthy, nine-pound infant, so plump that his parents nicknamed him "Shandong Cannon."
When Chan was born, his cash-strapped parents apparently couldn't pay the doctor who assisted in his birth. As Chan told Rediff, his parents considered selling him to settle the bill.
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(#3) He Has A Child He Doesn't Acknowledge
Chan is married to Taiwanese actor Joan Lin, but he had an affair in the late '90s with Miss Asia winner Elaine Ng. Ng got pregnant, but Chan reportedly wasn't interested in parenting their child. He allegedly told her, "Don't expect to get a cent."
The resulting child, Etta Ng, was born in 1999 and has never been publicly acknowledged, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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(#4) He Revealed Details About His Marriage In His Memoir
In his autobiography, Never Grow Up, Chan revealed lots of secrets about his marriage. His wife, Joan Lin, became pregnant while they were dating, but Chan sent her off to America because he was unsure of what to do.
The two were eventually married in a Los Angeles coffee shop during the lunchtime rush. Chan explained how he came to his decision in his memoir:
During her pregnancy, I was working the whole time and didn't go to the States until she was going to deliver. A form needed to be filled in before the baby was born. She then asked me if she could fill in my name under the "father: column... my agent said we should get married first.
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(#5) He Was Blacklisted By Insurance Companies Because His Stunts Were So Dangerous
Because Chan has long performed his stunts in movies, he has broken a lot of bones. As a result, Chan said insurance companies banned him. That means he pays for all his employees' medical bills if they're hurt on set or while working on his films.
Very generous, but necessary, especially considering the perils involved in his films.
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(#6) His Son Went To Prison For Pot Possession
Chan's son, aspiring actor Jaycee, was arrested in China in 2014 for possession of cannabis. He served six months and paid a fine of about $300, according to CNN. Jaycee came out of the experience very repentant.
According to Chan, the punishment made his son more mature.
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(#7) He Holds The Guinness World Record For Most Stunts By A Living Actor
Master martial artist Chan holds a unique Guinness World Record. On December 5, 2012, he received honors for "most stunts by a living actor." This makes sense considering Chan performs nearly all of his own stunts.
Chan also holds the record for "most credits in one movie."
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(#8) He's A Famous Singer In China
On top of being a world-renowned action star, Chan is also a trained opera singer, according to Jackie Chan: Inside the Dragon. He's recorded a lot of songs in China, where he's a significant musical presence.
Fittingly, Chan usually sings the theme tunes that play during his movies' credits.
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(#9) He Semi-Retired From Doing His Own Stunts In 2012
In 2012, Chan said he would retire from doing stunts. While promoting his film Chinese Zodiac, he said:
This is my last action film. I tell you, I'm not young anymore. I'm really, really tired.
While many assumed Chan meant he was retiring from action films, he later clarified on Facebook that he merely meant he wouldn't continue doing all his stunts:
After all these years of doing so many stunts and breaking so many bones, I need to take better care of my body so I can keep working.
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(#10) He Acted As Part Of His Drama School's Performance Group
Chan was in a performance troupe at his school, the China Opera Academy. According to Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine, the group consisted of seven young men, affectionately dubbed "the Seven Little Fortunes." Many of them grew up to be stars in China, with a number specializing in martial arts.
Along with Chan, several other members of the group have been big contributors to Chinese cinema since the 1970s.
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(#11) He Got The Nickname 'Jackie' While Working In Australia
According to Reuters, Chan's parents moved the family to Canberra, Australia, in the 1970s. It was there he earned his famous moniker. While working on a construction site, Chan was mentored by an employee named Jack.
As a result, his fellow workers dubbed him "Little Jack." That was then shortened to "Jackie."
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(#12) He's Starred In Over 100 Movies
Chan has put out more than 100 movies in his four decades of acting on the stage and screen. His hundredth film, 1911, came out in 2012. Chan's films feature different languages - ranging from Mandarin and Cantonese to English - and different genres - from comedy to drama to, of course, action.
Chan also shows no sign of slowing down: E! reports he's planning a return to past hits, like Rush Hour.
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(#13) He Was Named One Of The World's Most Philanthropic Stars
In 2011, Forbes named Chan one of the world's most philanthropic celebrities. He founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in 1988, aimed at assisting young people in need; he also created the Dragon's Heart Foundation in 2004.
In 2011, Chan revealed he'll give his fortune to charity - not his son or other family members. As of 2016, Chan's net worth is estimated at $350 million.
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About This Tool
When it comes to Chinese action superstars, almost everyone thinks of Jackie Chan. As an actor, Jackie Chan not only represents the achievements of Hong Kong movies but also has a worldwide influence. As the spokesperson of Chinese Kung Fu movies, he showed people traditional Chinese culture in Hollywood. Jackie Chan is one of the most successful Chinese actors in the Hollywood film industry and is a leading force in the Chinese action film industry.
As a filmmaker, Jackie Chan is enthusiastic about cultivating and nurturing newcomers and has made outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese film. As a public figure, he influences others with his love for the country and society. The random tool introduced 13 things about his life and career.
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