Jackie Chan

What do you get when a kung fu master becomes a comedian and a daredevil? Jackie Chan! Born in Hong Kong in 1954, Jackie Chan is a movie star, martial artist, stuntman, director and singer who changed action movies.

The single most important thing about Jackie is how he mixes fast kung-fu moves with funny acting and amazing stunts — and he usually does those stunts himself. He trained as a child at the Peking Opera School, where teachers taught him acrobatics, acting, singing and discipline.

In the 1970s and 1980s his funny, acrobatic fighting style made hits like Drunken Master and Police Story. In the 1990s he became a world-famous star with Rumble in the Bronx and the Hollywood comedy Rush Hour. Jackie often uses everyday objects, clever timing and comic expressions to make fights exciting and funny.

Because he did real stunts and invented new tricks, Jackie helped make Hong Kong action cinema popular worldwide and inspired many actors, stunt teams and filmmakers. He has won many awards, received an Honorary Oscar in 2016, and supports charities that help children and disaster victims. Jackie Chan shows kids that hard practice, creativity and kindness can turn a talent into a big adventure — and that work can be brave, funny and helpful at the same time.