Jackie Chan

A hero is not always one of extraordinary physical strength who knows how to apprehend a bad guy in the heat of a robbery, shoot-out, or drug raids. To be a hero also requires quick thinking, good character and the integrity to know when to speak, think, and act. A hero can be found anywhere in the world and can be found in just about anyone. A certain sacrifice may sometimes make someone a hero, although super hero abilities are not required. What truly sets a hero apart is their willingness to put others first over themselves, and to genuinely care for others.

Jackie Chan was born in Hong Kong on April 7th, 1954. Jackie weighed 12 pounds at birth and his parents had to borrow money from friends to pay the medical bills from his birth. When Jackie was 7, his father and mother moved to Australia for a job as a chef at the American Embassy, leaving Jackie alone in Hong Kong. His parents sent him to the China Drama Academy for the next ten years of his life. At the academy Jackie learned how to sing, do acrobatics, and perfected his martial art skills that his father had taught him. This propelled Jackie to acquire a passion for acting and he later became a stuntman for the Hong Kong film industry.

Several years later, Jackie moved to Australia to live with his parents. While doing construction work to make ends meet, Jackie was contacted by an acting agent Willie Chan, to take the leading role in the film “New Fist of Fury” by Lo Wei. This was his big break into the film industry and he went on to make several movies of his own. He is famously known to have done more of his own stunts than any other actor in the world. Jackie Chan is in great shape and takes being physically fit very serious and this has benefited him in many areas of life, including acting and working as a stunt man.

Jackie Chan, though he does display superhuman abilities within martial arts, more importantly has an incredible gift for caring for others. He has founded two major charitable agencies: The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation: which provides support for the youth and elderly in Hong Kong, as well as The Dragon’s Heart Foundation: helps children and the elderly in poor and remote areas of China. Jackie displays his love for people through these foundations.

Most recently Jackie focuses most of his time and energy as Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS. All of his accomplishments and how he treats other people really shows his great character and a deep compassion for serving others. He often does not take credit for his own accomplishments in movies, and tries to always put others first with a caring heart. Rather then spend all this time and resources on himself, he has repeatedly devoted so much of himself to others through his charities. He currently resides in both Los Angeles, California as well as in Hong Kong with his wife Lin Feng-Jiao and their son Jaycee Chan.