Jackie Chan

(http://www.inflexwetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/JackieChan.jpg ())

"Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances" (Chan). Jackie Chan, an excellent actor and Martial Artist, is famous for his eccentric and humorous kung fu movies. However, Chan is not just a superb Hollywood star, he is a hero. Jackie Chan deserves the title of a hero because he became successful despite poverty, he spends his time and money to help others, and he is a great actor and Martial Artist.

        Chan was born in Hong Kong on April 7, 1954. During his early childhood, Chan's family was very poor, making his life difficult. His parents moved to Australia when he was six leaving him at the China Drama Academy. While Jackie was there he learned Martial Arts, acting, acrobatics, and other drama skills. After graduating he tried looking for work but jobs were hard to come by due to the failure of the film industry in Hong Kong. Because of this Chan was forced to move to Australia to work. He thought that labor was increasingly mundane so he left for America. Living in America was difficult for Jackie, because he did not speak English. Despite this, Chan used his hard work and talent to make his way toward Hollywood. Today he is famous for his unique movies and stunts.

(http://img2-1.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/news/080602/jackie_chan240.jpg ())

Jackie Chan is a hero because he achieved success despite an impoverished childhood. Newsmakers talks about how difficult Chan's childhood was. "His was a childhood of hardship and poverty, of parents so poor they nearly sold him for $26 to the British doctor who delivered him" (Newsmakers). Chan was born into a poor family which patronized his tender years, however, he still worked hard to succeed. In Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan they discuss the troubling financial situation of Chan's parents. "Jackie's parents were so poor that they had to borrow money from friends to pay the doctor" (Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan). Chan and his family were having a difficult time with their financial debt when he was young. Yet through hard work and perseverance, Chan surmounted his nadir and rose from the depths of poverty. 

( ())

Chan spends time and money to aid others because he feels the need to help those who were in his similar financial situation. Nowak talks about how Chan feels obligated to help people in need. "Helping charities around the world is something Chan feels he has to do, since he himself benefited from donations as a child growing up in an austere Chinese opera school in Hong Kong" (Nowak). Chan can connect to those who have a difficult life. Because he was raised in poverty, Chan wants to give back to the poor and those in need. In Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan they discuss how Jackie Chan spends his time helping others. "He takes his work as Ambassador for UNICEF/UNAIDS very seriously and spends all his spare time working tirelessly for children, the elderly and those in need" (Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan). Through his success Chan has assimilated plenty of money and time which he could spend to his own indulgence; however, it is his obligation towards mankind that gives him the philanthropic attitude to be the man of inspiration that he is.

Jackie Chan is outstanding at Martial Arts and acting. Newsmaker reports information about Chan's skill. "Even Sylvester Stallone, Hollywood's action-hero icon, acknowledged Chan's prodigious gifts.  'Jackie has elongated a genre that had grown pretty stale,' Stallone told Time. 'He's infused films with humor and character-driven story while giving audiences these extraordinary stunts that are unparalleled anywhere in the world'" (Newsmakers). Chan is famously known for talented stunt work and good acting skills. Many people acknowledge him for his ability in acting. In Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan they talk about the benefits of Chan's Martial Arts training. "Jackie's lifetime devotion to fitness has served him well as he continues to do stunt work and action sequences in his films" (Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan). Chan's talent in acting and Martial Arts are extraordinary. Even today he has the ability to pull off stunts in movies. Because of his impressive acting and Martial Arts skills, Jackie Chan is a hero.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Jackie_Chan_Cannes.jpg (George Biard))

Due to his altruism, success despite poverty, and astounding skill in Martial Arts Jackie Chan is a hero. Jackie Chan is a truly great person. He grew up in poverty yet became successful. Because of this, he donates his money to those who need it. Many people consider Jackie Chan something that is beyond a great actor, and beyond a great Martial Artist. He is a hero who fills the gap in hearts of mankind, giving back to the world while being a inspiration. He has seen the deep pit of poverty and the high clouds of bright stardom. The world a hero would only understand.

"Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan." Biography - The Official Website of Jackie Chan. Web. 16 May 2012. .

"Jackie Chan." Jackie Chan (Biography Today) (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 8 May 2012

"Jackie Chan." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 1996. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 8 May 2012.

Lewis, Jon. "Chan, Jackie." World Book Student. World Book, 2012. Web. 8 May 2012. 

Nowak, Pete. "Still getting his kicks: Jackie Chan may be one of the busiest stars in Hollywood, but he still has time for his favourite thing: raising money for charity."Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada] 12 Nov. 2001: 1. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 15 May 2012.