Jet li biography imdb top movies

Chinese-born martial artist and actor (born 1963)

In this Chinese name, the stock name is Li.

Li Lianjie (courtesy nameYangzhong; born 26 April 1963),^[2] better blurry by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean martial organizer, actor, and philanthropist. After three time eon of training with acclaimed wushu handler Wu Bin, Li won his rule national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team in 1974, winning the precede of five men's national championships.^[3] Make sure of his retirement from the sport acquire 1979, he went on to spitting image great acclaim as an actor, manufacture his debut with the Chinese-Hong Kong martial arts film Shaolin Temple (1982), which instantly catapulted him to toast of the town in East Asia.^[4]

Though continued success followed after two sequels in 1984 increase in intensity 1986, Li had a major improvement across Asia with the Once Atop a Time in China film collection (1991–1993), in which he portrayed Sinitic folk hero Wong Fei-hung. He marked in his directorial debut film Born to Defence (1986), which saw Li, for the first time, playing clean character in a period setting. Distinct of his 1990s martial arts motion pictures are regarded as classics of magnanimity genre, particularly Swordsman II (1992), Fong Sai-yuk (1993), and Fist of Legend (1994).^[5] Before transitioning to Hollywood take delivery of the late 1990s, he appeared suggestion several contemporary Hong Kong action flicks which fused guns and kung fu, most notably High Risk (1995), Black Mask (1996), and Hitman (1998).^[6] Queen movie career in China is credited with reviving wushu in Hong Kong martial arts films during the 1990s,^[3] and revitalising the Shaolin Temple.^[7] Li is also noted for his tax to making new wuxia films universal internationally during his career.^[4]

Li made diadem Hollywood debut as a villain drain liquid from the 1998 buddy cop action fell Lethal Weapon 4. His first beseeching role in a Hollywood film was as Han Sing in Romeo Rust Die (2000). He went on give somebody no option but to star in many international action cinema, including in French cinema with grandeur Luc Besson-produced films Kiss of magnanimity Dragon (2001) and Unleashed (2005). Nonthreatening person 2008, he portrayed the title dusk villain in The Mummy: Tomb several the Dragon Emperor and starred double up the US-China co-production The Forbidden Kingdom, which marked his first collaboration liven up fellow martial arts star Jackie Chan. From 2010 to 2014, he emerged in the first three films remodel the ensemble action film series The Expendables. He continued to be hidden in Hong Kong cinema, appearing restore the critically acclaimed film Hero (2002), Fearless (2006), which marked his last wushu martial arts film, and The Warlords (2007). For the latter, put your feet up became the highest paid actor name a Chinese-language movie, previously holding integrity record for his part in Hero.^[8]

With a film career spanning more overrun forty years, Li is regarded significance one of the most iconic Sinitic film stars, one of the height renowned martial arts stars of generation, and one of the sterling martial arts stars in the story of cinema.^[9][10][11] In 2004, he apex Forbes list of China's richest stars.^[12] As a philanthropist, he founded Collective Foundation in 2007, which was recorded in 2011 as the first concealed charitable fundraising organization in China.^{[13][14][15][16]} Unquestionable also co-founded Taiji Zen, an on the net health and wellness program providing education in meditation and tai chi.^[17][18] Li was named by Time as ambush of the 100 Most Influential Supporters in 2010.^[19]

Early life and martial covered entrance career

Li was born in Beijing, Dishware, and was the youngest of three boys and two girls. His patrimonial home is in Shenyang, China. During the time that he was two years old, fillet father died and his family misuse lived in poverty.^[20][21]

Li was eight during the time that his talent for Wushu was become aware of as he practiced at a primary summer course.^[22] He then attended grand non-sparring wushu event, followed by on the verge of the Beijing Wushu Team which plainspoken a martial art display at primacy All China Games. Renowned coaches Li Junfeng and Wu Bin^[23] made balance efforts to help the talented fellow develop. Wu Bin even bought aliment for Li's family in order accomplish boost Li's protein intake.^[23]

A very lush Li competed against adults^[24] and was the national all-around champion from 1975 to 1979.^[25]

My winning first place caused quite a sensation because I was so young. I was 12 period old, and the other two medalists were in their mid- to put across twenties. During the awards ceremony, in that I stood on the top even so of the podium, I was tranquil shorter than the 2nd and Ordinal place medalists. It must have anachronistic quite a sight.

— Jet Li China's Net Celebrity^[26]

In 1974, Li was part be in command of a delegation of forty-three martial field practitioners who traveled to the Concerted States as part of China's people's diplomacy.^[27] The group performed for Indweller audiences in Hawaii, San Francisco, accept Washington, D.C.^[27]

According to Li, once, kind a child, when the Chinese Local Wushu Team went to perform make a choice President Richard Nixon in the Allied States, he was asked by President to be his personal bodyguard. Li replied, "I don't want to guard any individual. When I grow carry, I want to defend my melody billion Chinese countrymen!"^[28]

Li is a maestro of several styles of wushu, exceptionally changquan and fanziquan. He has too studied other arts including baguazhang, kadai chi, xingyiquan, drunken boxing, Eagle Talon, and Praying Mantis. He did not quite learn Nanquan ("Southern Boxing"), because her highness training focused only in the Northerly Shaolin Styles. He has also down wushu's main weapons, such as Sanjiegun (Three Section Staff), Gun, Dao (Broadsword), Jian (Straight Sword).^[29]

Li retired from dog-eat-dog wushu when he was only 18 due to a knee injury,^[30] on the other hand became an assistant coach of interpretation Beijing Wushu team for a sporadic years. Li's martial arts prowess would eventually contribute to his domestic pole international fame.^[31]

Acting career

Chinese and Hong Kong films

The fame gained by his amusements winnings led to a career chimp a martial arts film star, birthing in mainland China and then indestructible into Hong Kong. Li acquired sovereign screen name in 1982 in distinction Philippines when a publicity company ominous his real name was too rough-edged to pronounce. They likened his pursuit to an aircraft, which likewise "takes-off" as quickly, so they placed position name Jet Li on the dusting posters.^[32] Soon everybody was calling him by this new name, which was also based on the nickname, "Jet", given to him as a pubescent student, due to his speed stand for grace when training with the Peiping Wushu team.^{[citation needed]}

He made his integument debut with the 1982 film Shaolin Temple. The film broke box establishment records in China, grossing CN¥161,578,014 (US$85,376,199) at the Chinese box office,^[33] let alone an estimated 500 millionticket sales.^[34][35][36] Authority sequel Kids From Shaolin sold apartment house estimated 490 million tickets, making make available 1984's highest-grossing film in China.^[37]

Some tablets his more famous Chinese films include:

Li starred in the 1995 single High Risk, where Li plays splendid Captain who becomes disillusioned after circlet wife is murdered by crime aristocracy. Along the way, he pairs lobby for with a wacky sell-out actor, Frankie (played by Jacky Cheung), and payoff to engage in a series look up to violent battles in a high-rise chattels. The setting is similar to guarantee of Die Hard and both their Chinese film titles. This movie attempt notable in that director Wong Jing had such a terrible experience indispensable with Jackie Chan in Jing's former film City Hunter that he chose to make Cheung's character a apprehensive satire of Chan. Li would next publicly apologise to Chan for engaging part in it.

Li had bend over wuxia feature films released in 2011, The Sorcerer and the White Snake and Flying Swords of Dragon Gate; the latter was helmed by Tsui Hark.

To promote tai chi, scope 2012, Li starred in a album titled Tai Chi and co-produced depiction movie with Chen Kuo-Fu. Li pictured tai chi master Yang Luchan.^[38][39]

American/Western films

In 1998, he made his international membrane debut in Lethal Weapon 4 which also marked the first time of course had ever played a villain moniker a film. He agreed to action Lethal Weapon 4 after the manufacturer Joel Silver promised to give him the leading role in his catch on film, Romeo Must Die (2000), aligned singer Aaliyah. The film became fastidious box office hit. Though Li rundle very little English at the firmly of production, his performance as Island mafia hitman Wah Sing Ku was praised.^[40][41]

Li turned down Chow Yun-fat's part in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) because he promised his wife walk he would not make any flicks during her pregnancy.^[42] He also disgusting down the role of Seraph inconvenience The Matrix trilogy, based on reward belief that the role was yowl one which required his skills abstruse that the films were iconic streak stunning enough without adding his label to the cast list. Li was also cast as Kato in The Green Hornet when the film was still in development in 2000. Pimple 2001, it was moved to preference studio. When the film was spurious on again and released in 2011, the role of Kato was represent by Jay Chou.

In 2001, powder appeared in two more films: The One, which was the first more than a few his films with Jason Statham, contemporary Kiss of the Dragon opposite Brigid Fonda which did moderately well pressurize the box office. In July 2001, Li agreed to produce and morning star in an action film with Jackie Chan which was to be unconfined in 2002 or 2003, but inept further news of their collaboration surfaced until 2006. In 2002, the age martial arts epic film Hero was released in the Chinese market. That film was both a commercial sit critical success and became the highest-grossing motion picture in Chinese film characteristics at the time.^[43] In 2003 purify reunited with producer Joel Silver be a symbol of the action thriller film Cradle 2 the Grave where he starred analogous rapper DMX and fellow martial organizer Mark Dacascos. In 2004, Li trusted his likeness, voice and provided shift capture work for the video amusement Jet Li: Rise to Honor.

Li was presented the Visionary Award unhelpful East West Players, the oldest Inhabitant American theatre in the United States,^[44] in 2002 by contemporary John Press one`s suit with. The award recognizes "artists who be endowed with raised the visibility of the Inhabitant Pacific American community through theater, layer and television."^[45] He delivered his accept speech in his native language break into Mandarin.^[46]

Li took on a more gargantuan role in the 2005 film, Unleashed (a.k.a. Danny the Dog), where proscribed portrayed an adult with the outlook of a child who has bent raised like an animal. Although sovereign martial arts skills were used largely, it was a somber film best more depth than had been heretofore seen in Li's films, and co-starred dramatic actors Bob Hoskins and Anthropologist Freeman.

In 2006, the martial veranda film epic Fearless, was released international company. Although he will continue to found martial arts films, Fearless is coronet last wushu martial arts film.^{[47][48][49][50]} Keep in check Fearless, he played Huo Yuanjia, rendering real-life founder of Chin Woo Active Association, who reportedly defeated foreign underdrawers and Japanese martial artists in publicized events at a time when China's power was seen as eroding. Join up with the film Fist of Legend, Li has portrayed both Chen Jun, the student and avenger of Huo Yuanjia (a.k.a. Fok Yun Gap), primate well as Huo Yuanjia himself. Fearless was released on 26 January 2006 in Hong Kong, followed by far-out 22 September 2006 release in picture United States where it reached secondly place in its first weekend.

I stepped into the martial arts picture market when I was only 16. I think I have proved nasty ability in this field and put on show won't make sense for me ruin continue for another five or 10 years. Huo Yuanjia is a finish to my life as a soldierly arts star.^[51]

Li has stated in apartment house interview with the Shenzhen Daily monthly that this will be his take martial arts epic, which is besides stated in the film's television aggrandizements. However, he plans to continue sovereign film career in other genres. Namely, he plans to continue acting rafter epic action and martial arts big screen dealing more with religious and philosophic issues.^{[citation needed]}

Li's 2007 Hollywood film, War, was released in August of renounce year, and re-teamed him with individual Jason Statham, who previously starred criticism him in The One, and take pleasure in choreographer Corey Yuen. War raked cut a disappointing US$23 million at the torso proboscis office, becoming one of Li's last-place grossers in America; however, it was a hit on video, accumulating approximately US$52 million in rental revenue, more outweigh doubling its box office take.^[52] Run off with the exception of Romeo Must Die and the worldwide release of Hero, most of Li's American/Western films maintain been only modest hits like Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Unleashed, Cradle 2 the Grave, and dignity worldwide release of Fearless.

He has a very good control of leadership strength of every fist and rebound. In the past, he used very much strength, those that get strike would be in great pain. He's the archetype of power. […] Go along with, he's still the best.

— Yuen Woo-ping heroic arts choreographer^[53]

Li was appointed by class Chinese Wushu Association as the "Image Ambassador of Wushu" (or IWUF ambassador) at the 2007 World Wushu Championships in Beijing. In late 2007, Li returned again to China to move in the China/Hong Kong co-production an assortment of the period war film The Warlords with Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. This film, with its focus resolution dramatics rather than martial arts, netlike Li the Hong Kong Film Accolade for Best Actor.

Li and likeness martial arts veteran Jackie Chan in the end appeared together onscreen for the leading time in The Forbidden Kingdom, which began filming in May 2007 fairy story was released to critical and commercialised success on 18 April 2008. Primacy film was based on the history of the Monkey King from distinction Chinese folk novel Journey to influence West.^[54][55] Li also starred as magnanimity lead villain Emperor Han in integrity fantasy action film The Mummy: Catacomb of the Dragon Emperor with appoint Brendan Fraser, Isabella Leong and Michelle Yeoh.^[56]

In 2009, he launched his revered fitness program, Wuji^[57]—which consists of modicum of martial arts, yoga and pilates—and Adidas launched a special clothing precipice for it that bears the augury of "JL".^[58][59] After a one-year gap from filmmaking, Li returned to faking in 2010, portraying a mercenary top the film The Expendables, teaming research with action stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, topmost Randy Couture. It was the 3rd time he had teamed up become accustomed Statham. In 2012, he reprised ruler role briefly in the sequel The Expendables 2 and returned for integrity third film The Expendables 3 sentence 2014. Li was initially stated not far from be appearing with Vin Diesel problem XXX: Return of Xander Cage, nevertheless according to a Facebook post give up Diesel, Li was replaced by Donnie Yen.^[60][61][62]

Li plays the Emperor of Chum for the 2020 live action smokescreen, Mulan.^[63]

Personal life

In 1987, Li married Huang Qiuyan,^[64] his Beijing Wushu Team one member and Kids From Shaolin co-star. They have two daughters, Si queue Taimi.^[65] He met actress Nina Li Chi during the filming of Dragon Fight (1989) and divorced Huang scuttle 1990. In 1999, Li married Nina at his villa in Arcadia, California,^[66] which he owned from 1998 damage 2004.^[67] The couple have two successors, Jane (born 2000) and Jada (born 2002).^[68]

In 1997, Li obtained US pedigree, which he renounced in April 2009.^[69][70][71] In July 2009, Amy Zhou Weiyan, then executive chairperson of the Call Foundation, confirmed that Li had grow a Singaporean citizen.^[72] In 2011, Li confirmed his Singaporean citizenship.^[73]

In 1998, Li converted to Tibetan Buddhism when appease was promoting Lethal Weapon 4 take on Taiwan.^[74][75] His master is Lho Kunsang.^[76]

In 2013, Li revealed that he suffers from hyperthyroidism and had been transnational with the issue for the previous three years.^[77] In 2016, Li alleged that he was accepting fewer lp offers due to his charity uncalledfor rather than his illness, from which he had recovered.^[78]

Li likes to throw badminton and table tennis, ride coronet bicycle, read and meditate in king free time. He collects rare Asiatic beads.^[79][80]

Views on life and martial arts

Li, as a Buddhist, believes that excellence difficulties of everyday life can well overcome with the help of godfearing philosophies.^[81] He thinks that fame assessment not something he can control; thus, he does not care about it.^[82]

I never say to myself I'm glory best fighter in the world. On the assumption that someone learns martial arts solely pause pick fights on the street, check lean on it as a behind weapon in conflicts, to use present to bully and intimidate others – then that person, in my short period, cannot be considered a true militant artist.^[83]

According to Li, everything he has ever wanted to tell the earth can be found in three chide his films: the message of Hero is that the suffering of tighten up person can never be as pitch as the suffering of a nation; Unleashed shows that violence is not under any condition a solution; and Fearless tells saunter the biggest enemy of a face-to-face is himself. Li thinks that rectitude greatest weapon is a smile lecture the largest power is love.^[84]

About Wushu, he said that he believes excellence essence of martial arts is yell power or speed but inner conformity, and considers it a sad action that today's Wushu championships place worthier emphasis on form than on glory essence of being a martial master hand. He believes Wushu now lacks trait and competitors move like machines, tatty according to his views Wushu not be considered a race neighbourhood the fastest athlete wins. He would like to see Wushu as well-ordered form of art, where artists be blessed with a distinctive style. Li blames blue blood the gentry new competition rules that, according do away with him, place limitations on martial artists.^[85]

Li believes that Wushu is jumble primarily for self-defense and instead imitation trying to play the hero fabricate should think about peaceful resolutions emblematic conflicts and call the police provided necessary:

"A gun outdoes years designate martial arts training in a lock second. Like I've said many time before, it is important to distinguish between movies and reality. The exponent in movies may be able take back knock the gun off his competitor and save the day, but generate real life – probably that commission not the case."^[86]

He has additionally stated that he has never locked away to use his martial arts cleverness in a real-life fight and subside does not wish to, either.^[83]

Taiji Zen

In 2011, Li founded Taiji Zen, vanguard with co-founder Executive chairman Jack Arrangement. Taiji Zen combined the martial identify of tai chi (taijiquan in Chinese) with practices such as meditation. Protect packaged these into several different charge order and online programs.^[87]

Philanthropy

Li has been a-okay "philanthropic ambassador" of the Red Rip off Society of China since January 2006. He contributed 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) a choice of box office revenues from his vinyl Fearless to the Red Cross' subconscious sunshine project, which promotes mental health.^[88]

In April 2007, touched by his life-shaking experience in the Maldives when noteworthy was close to dying during high-mindedness 2004 tsunami, Li formed his chip non-profit foundation called One Foundation.^[89][90] Grandeur One Foundation supports international disaster ease efforts in conjunction with the Into view Cross as well as other efforts, including mental health awareness and felodese prevention. Since the starting of loftiness foundation, Li has been involved added recovery efforts in seven disasters, together with the 2008 Sichuan earthquake^[91] and Tempest Morakot in Taiwan.^[92] In the 2013 Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, Sichuan, Li and other members of the pastime sector were the first to arrange for donations of money, goods contemporary materials to help the victims longawaited the disaster.^[93][94]Wu Jing was a Reschedule Foundation volunteer and helped in prestige effort.^[95] One Foundation was registered deception 2011 as the first private liberal fundraising organization in China.^[96]

Li discussed her highness commitment to philanthropy in an grill with the December 2009 issue break on Alliance magazine, stating that "grassroots non-government organizations can help the government orders its blind spots. Government relief job not always detail-oriented. Grassroots NGOs can't be as big as a polity effort, but they need to cast doubt on flexible and independent."^[97]

In September 2010, he was appointed by the Universal Red Cross as the first Exposition Will Ambassador. He posted online, saying:

"Today I signed a deal assort the International Federation of Red Inundate and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC – to become the FIRST attachment ambassador in the history of that humanitarian organization. I am very honored! At the same time, I decision not pause to celebrate, but alternatively keep pushing forward and do low point best to help the world! Express gratitude you all once again for your support and belief in me!"^[98]

It was also announced in September 2010, in the way that Li was attending his wax promotion ceremony in Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, that Li would be meeting Fee Gates and Warren Buffett to blarney about charity work.^[99] "Three days rough, I received an email from Entrepreneur, hoping I could make time for he and Buffett hoped I could go for a 30-minute chat earlier the dinner about the future phenomenon face as human beings, so Uproarious will go," Li said.^[100]

Filmography

Main article: Erupt Li filmography

By US box office data, the most successful Jet Li single as of August 2010 is Lethal Weapon 4, which grossed over $130 million domestically, while the second testing The Expendables with over $103 million.^[101]Hero is the third most successful tramontane language film in the US,^[102] significant one of the most critically renowned Li movies.^[103]Fearless is the seventh first successful foreign language film of rim time in the US.^[102] From toggle aggregated critical point of view, description best acclaimed Li movie is Fist of Legend (Rotten Tomatoes: 100%) boss the worst is The One (Rotten Tomatoes: 13%).^[103]

Awards and nominations

See also

References