Jackie Chan was born in Hong Kong on April 7, 1954 to parents so poor they had to borrow money to pay the doctor for his delivery. At the age of 7, Jackie was enrolled in the China Drama Academy where he spent the next 10 years training in the art of Peking Opera. It was at the Academy that Jackie learned the acrobatics, martial arts, acting, and singing that would later help him to become an international superstar.
When Jackie left the Academy at the age of 17, the Peking Opera was no longer popular and many of the graduates turned to stunt work in Hong Kong movies. Jackie soon gained a reputation as a talented and fearless stuntman and over the next few years he swiftly climbed the ladder of success and was soon acting, directing, and choreographing stunts for dozens of films.
After a series of attempts in the 1980s to break into the American movie market, Jackie returned to Hong Kong to concentrate on making films in his hometown. He was extremely successful, yet never gave up his dream of making it in America. In 1995 he returned to the US to film Rumble in the Bronx and when it was released in 1996, it was a huge hit. Over the next several years, Jackie starred in a succession of American productions, none more successful than the blockbuster Rush Hour series. Jackie had finally fulfilled his dream of making it in America. Over his nearly four-decade career in film, Jackie has received hundreds of awards for his acting, directing, writing, and stunt work.
Jackie has always had a keen interest in business and over the years has been involved in many and varied business ventures. In 2011, Jackie partnered with Sparkle Roll Investment Ltd. create his own signature cinema in Beijing. Currently Jackie Chan Cinema has 39 outlets all over China.
For the past 30 years, Jackie has devoted much of his spare time and energy to charity work. In 1988 he established the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and since then he has worked tirelessly for dozens of charities both at home and abroad. In recent years he has focused his energies on his Dragon’s Heart Foundation, which builds schools in remote areas of China. Among his many charitable endeavors, he is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS, a celebrity cabinet member of the American Red Cross, founder of the Jackie Chan Civil Aviation Foundation in China, and has hosted charity concerts and car races for many years.