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Jackie Who?

 

For those of you who have been hiding away from the world these last 40 years and have never heard of him before, here's a little bit of info to set you straight, or visit www.jackiechan.com and find out everything there is to know about this great man.

            In Hong Kong, on the 7th April 1954, the Chinese year of the horse, Chan Kong Sang was born. The name comes from the Cantonese language, which means ‘Born in Hong Kong’. In china, he is known as Sing Lung, ‘Already a Dragon’, to the Western Audiences he is known as Jackie Chan.

             Weighing in at 160 lbs (11˝ stone), and 5ft 8in in height, to many people he may seem like just an ordinary guy, but for all the thousands, if not millions, of fans who have devoted their affectionate loyalty to him, he is so much more than that.

The world famous man of action comedy has been a very busy guy since his career started at the small and tender age of eight, and he has even found time for marriage and to have a child. Married to previous Taiwanese actress, Lam Fung Gui (Cantonese), or Lin Feng Chiao (Mandarin), their only child is that of Chan Cho Ming (Cantonese), or Chen Zu Ming (Mandarin), who was born in 1983. Jackie’s parents, Charles and Lee-lee Chan, live in Australia.

            Originating in Honk Kong, Jackie’s parents worked for the French ambassador to Hong Kong, His father as a cook and his mother as a housekeeper. Being of a poor background, they could hardly afford the hospital bills for Jackie’s birth. Now three months over-due, Jackie was brought into the world by means of an operation. Being a heavy 12 pounds at birth, Lee-lee nicknamed him ‘Pao-pao; which means ‘Cannonball’ in Chinese. Jackie’s parents could not afford to pay the bill for the operation and was forced to borrow the money from friends so in order to keep their only son.

            In 1960, Jackie enrolled in the Peking Opera school, and was to study there until the age of seventeen. His master at the school was Yu Jim-Yuen, who nicknamed Jackie as Yuen Lo. Whilst educated at the school, Jackie had to learn many things, Chinese performing, acting, and martial arts are just a few. He was subjected to long days and challenging physical demands. It was a very strict school, and punishment was common for those who disobeyed.

            Jackie then joined ‘The seven little fortunes’, a group of several people that performed in locations around Hong Kong. Samo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Yuen Wah also performed at the group.

Jackie’s career began in 1962 when he played a small but vital part in the Cantonese film, Big and little wong tin-bar, and he then appeared in several other films as a child actor and stuntman before he was even out of teens.

In 1976, after appearing in the film, Hand of death, directed by John Woo, Jackie went off to Australia to be with his parents. He returned shortly after to appear in another film, it was here he met his best friend and manager, Willy Chan, and is still, to this date.

In 1978, Snake in the eagles shadow was made, produced by director Ng See Huen. The film was a great hit in Hong Kong, and so the pair were brought back together shortly after to make the even more successful, Drunken Master. It was in 1981 and 1984 that Jackie went to America to appear in the Cannonball Run films, which I believe are the only non-kung fu related films he has appeared in. It was the 1984 film, Project A that took him in his own genre of action comedy, a mixture of martial arts, action stunts and comedy. Jackie began to do all his own stunts, something no actor would ever do. But it is this sheer passion for perfection and dedication to his work that makes him the man he is today.

Jackie continued to bring his unique style of action comedy all through the 90’s despite many other actors attempting to copy his work in both Hong Kong and America. Taking what they thought to be a very big chance, American company, New line cinema, bought the rights to distribute Jackie’s, Rumble in the Bronx in 1996. Their cautiousness was not needed as it went straight to number one and finally the Americans were exposed to Martial art comedy. There is no way I can describe Jackie’s work, but the world didn’t know what it was missing until he came along.

Jackie Chan is the best action hero there has ever lived, and no one can ever take his place. If you want to find out more about him, visit the Jackie Chan web site link above, you can even follow the links from there to go to other sites, including the fan clubs. Once I get to meet the great man himself, I shall tell you all about it. And believe me, one day I will.