As Jackie Chan returns for Karate Kid: Legends, we look at some truly surprising details about the action icon’s life, from his parents’ past to his business ventures.
Chan is a living legend, a name synonymous with gravity-defying stunts and comedic martial arts. With his new film, Karate Kid: Legends, bringing him back to the big screen, it’s a perfect time to pull back the curtain on some lesser-known aspects of his incredible journey. You might think you know Jackie, but prepare for some serious surprises.
Read more: The ‘Karate Kid’ Franchise: A Cinematic Barometer of Asian Male Representation
1. His Mother Was an Opium Smuggler
Long before Chan was a household name, his parents lived a life that sounds straight out of a movie. Born Chan Kong-sang in 1954, Chan later discovered more about his family’s past. His father, Fang Daolang, was involved in illicit criminal activities and may have been a Nationalist spy. Even more startling, his mother had once been arrested for smuggling opium and had connections to the Shanghai underworld. His parents fled a Communist regime in China when Chan was seven, settling in Australia and working for the American Embassy, leaving young Chan in Hong Kong at a boarding school.
2. He Starred in an Adult Movie
It’s hard to imagine the family-friendly Chan in anything risqué, but early in his career, he appeared in a Hong Kong softcore feature called All in the Family (1975). He was naked in some scenes, though not engaged in sexual activity. When asked about it in 2006, he explained, “I had to do anything I could to make a living 31 years ago. But I don’t think it’s a big deal. Even Marlon Brando used to be exposed in his movies. The porn movie at that time was more conservative than the current films.”
3. He Went Bowling with Bruce Lee Days Before His Death
Chan actually appeared briefly as a stuntman in Bruce Lee’s The Chinese Connection (1972) and Enter the Dragon (1973). A more personal encounter came just days before Lee’s untimely passing. A more personal encounter came just days before Lee’s untimely passing. Chan recalled, “I was totally shocked.” He recounted a casual encounter where Lee spotted him in the street and asked to join him for a bowling game. About 10 days later, Lee would be dead.
4. He Has Stuntmen for Simple Walking Scenes
Known for doing virtually all of his own dangerous stunts, it seems Chan might put stuntmen out of business. Not entirely. In 2013, he revealed that stunt performers are sometimes used as stand-ins for his movies during scenes that require his character to simply walk around, drive, or perform other mundane tasks. This allows the action legend to rest between his more demanding sequences. Stuntmen also perform test runs for his major stunts, giving him a preview of what to expect.
5. He Thought Rush Hour Was Terrible
Rush Hour (1998) was Chan’s big breakthrough in Hollywood, pairing him with Chris Tucker for a global box office hit. However, Chan himself wasn’t a fan. With limited opportunities to perform his signature stunts and facing a language barrier with Tucker, he didn’t grasp its appeal. “That’s a terrible movie,” he remembered telling his manager. “They don’t allow me to do my own style [of action]. The English, I’m not good. Chris Tucker’s English, I don’t understand. Terrible movie!”
6. He Had an Armed Standoff with a Triad Gang
Chan’s immense celebrity in Hong Kong led to run-ins with the notorious Triad gang. He has recounted instances of being harassed by the criminal organization, including members shooting at him as he disembarked a plane. Tired of the conflict, Chan claimed he once confronted them armed with a gun, with grenades prepared for a more explosive standoff. Hong Kong authorities later questioned him about the incident, but he stated it occurred outside the region, leading them to close the matter.
7. He Has a Permanent Hole in His Head from a Stunt
Considering his prolific and dangerous stunt career, it’s remarkable that Chan is still with us. He had a particularly close call while filming Armour of God (1986). A “simple” swing from a tree went wrong, causing him to hit his head on a rock. This accident necessitated a surgically-inserted metal plate and left him with a permanent, quarter-sized indentation in his skull. Chan has been known to invite co-stars and talk show hosts to touch it.
Read more: Jackie Chan on CGI Stunts: “Audience Is Numb” to Danger, Retirement “Never” Happening
