A visiting filmmaker offered Chan his first (tiny) role as a stunt player. Chan took the part, and soon left the Opera to pursue the world of film. Fellow Opera students Biao Yuen and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo would also have careers in film, and the three would star in several films together in the following years. Chan's talent and enthusiasm soon saw him taking larger and more important roles, graduating first to stunt coordinator, and then to director.

Following the death of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, the search was on for an actor who could inspire audiences to the same degree; every young martial artist was given a chance. Chan decided that rather than emulating Lee (and thus living forever in his shadow), he would develop his own style of filmmaking. His directorial debut Shi di chu ma (1980) was a milestone in martial arts films, being one of the first to effectively combine comedy with action. This set the tone for many of his future films, which combined slapstick humor with high-energy martial arts action. A self-confessed fan of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, Chan performs all his own stunts, quite often at his own peril. His later films include outtakes of his on-set injuries run under the closing credits. He is understandably number one on the insurance blacklist.

Trivia

Kong Sang means "Born In Hong Kong."

Sing Lung means "Already a Dragon."

Prefers to do action films with strong humour streaks and physical clowning like Buster Keaton.

In the act of performing his own stunts, he has broken his nose three times, his ankle once, most of the fingers in his hand, both cheekbones and his skull.

Not only does he do his own stunts, but he is a lead-from-the-front kind of guy and expects the actors & actresses in his movies to do their own stunts as well.

Has a son, Jaycee Chan (b. December, 3, 1982).

Has a daughter with former Miss Asia (Hong Kong), Elaine Ng.

Most often dubs his own voice for the English release of his Asian films. He also dubs his Asian films in Mandarin.

Was to star in a film entitled Nosebleed, but the project was cancelled after the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. He was to play a window-washer at the WTC that has to stop a terrorist plot.

In 1989, he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the British Government for Hong Kong/ Commonwealth.

His fan club once topped 10,000 members, mostly young girls; one of them committed suicide after she discovered that he was married. Another female fan attempted suicide, but was saved.

Spokesmodel of the "got milk?" campaign.

Has a permanent hole in his head from a stunt accident.

Admits he did Cannonball Run II (1984) just to fulfill his contract with Warner Brothers.

His Opera Academy "brothers" include Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Biao Yuen, Corey Yuen, Wah Yuen and Yuen Man Meng.
He has his own stuntman team, known as the Sing Ga Ban, or Jackie Chan Stuntman Association. Members of the team appear as extras in Jackie's films. Members include Andy Kai Chung Cheng, Chung Chi Li (Nicky Li) and Bradley James Allan.

In 1990, he was made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Minister of Culture and Communication.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conferred the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) upon him in 1999.

Despite the minimal formal education he received, he was made an honorary doctor of social science of the Hong Kong Baptist University, and an honorary fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

In his action scenes, his punches and kicks actually connect with their targets. He has his actors wear special padding in their feet and body to prevent serious injury.

Has a great, long lasting relationship with Mitsubishi Motors. The company has donated many of their automobiles for his films.

Underwent plastic surgery in 1976 to re-shape his eyelids, giving him a more "Western" appearance. The final film with the old-look Chan is Shao Lin mu ren xiang (1976).

Lived in Canberra, Australia as a child when his parents worked at the American Embassy there.

His stunt team is trained to perform the way he does. They must match him move for move, speed for speed, and so on. Because of this, many other actors have trouble working with him. For example, Ron Smoorenberg was doubled in "Who Am I?" (1998) because Jackie couldn't keep up with his movements and didn't trust him.

According to Jackie Chan's production diary on the official Shanghai Knights (2003) website, the producers of Shanghai Knights wanted to throw him a birthday party, but he asked them not to since his mother had recently died and Chinese tradition dictates that you should wait 3 to 12 months after a death to stop the mourning period. The producers threw the party anyway, and Chan did not object because, he said, "it is an important part of the American culture to celebrate birthdays."

He sings in the Chinese version of Mulan (1998). He sings the Chinese version of "I'll make a man out of you".

His role models are Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd, all of which were more important to him as a child than any martial arts star, the latter label he was basically forced into at a very young age.

Has a daughter with Elaine Wu

He worked with Bruce Lee as a stunt coordinator.

He was a stunt/fight coordinator for John Woo during his kung fu phase.

Is good friends with Steven Seagal.

He is also a talented singer. He has released numerous albums in Asia. His music is normally heard in the outtakes of his HK movies. Movies include: The Young Master Project A (not in us version) Police Story (not in us version) Armour of God (not in us version) Project A 2 Police Story 2 Dragons Forever Armour of God 2: Operation Condor (not in us version) Twin Dragons (not in us version) Police Story 3 (not in us version) Drunken Master 2 (not in us version) Rumble in the Bronx (not in us version) Jackie Chans First Strike (not in us version) Thunderbolt Nice Guy Who Am I? Twins Effect New Police Story

Some of his favourite films include Gone with the Wind (1939), Singing in the Rain (1951), and The Matrix (1999).

Says the most painful of all the injuries he's sustained in his career happened on Enter the Dragon, when Bruce Lee accidentally hit him in the face with a nunchuck.

Is best friends with Sylvester Stallone

Supporter of The Salvation Army's work in China.