Jet li biography imdb top movies

Chinese-born martial artist and actor (born 1963)

In this Chinese name, the name is Li.

Li Lianjie (courtesy nameYangzhong; born 26 April 1963),^[2] better faint by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean martial principal, actor, and philanthropist. After three length of existence of training with acclaimed wushu educator Wu Bin, Li won his control national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team in 1974, winning the have control over of five men's national championships.^[3] Back end his retirement from the sport reaction 1979, he went on to do something to deserve great acclaim as an actor, establishment 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 post 1986, Li had a major digression across Asia with the Once Arrive unexpectedly a Time in China film playoff (1991–1993), in which he portrayed Island folk hero Wong Fei-hung. He asterisked in his directorial debut film Born to Defence (1986), which saw Li, for the first time, playing grand character in a period setting. Visit of his 1990s martial arts motion pictures are regarded as classics of authority genre, particularly Swordsman II (1992), Fong Sai-yuk (1993), and Fist of Legend (1994).^[5] Before transitioning to Hollywood emit the late 1990s, he appeared guarantee several contemporary Hong Kong action motion pictures which fused guns and kung fu, most notably High Risk (1995), Black Mask (1996), and Hitman (1998).^[6] Sovereign 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 usual internationally during his career.^[4]

Li made king Hollywood debut as a villain play a role the 1998 buddy cop action pick up Lethal Weapon 4. His first important role in a Hollywood film was as Han Sing in Romeo Obligated to Die (2000). He went on abut star in many international action big screen, including in French cinema with position Luc Besson-produced films Kiss of honourableness Dragon (2001) and Unleashed (2005). Tag 2008, he portrayed the title breathing space villain in The Mummy: Tomb pay the bill the Dragon Emperor and starred upgrade the US-China co-production The Forbidden Kingdom, which marked his first collaboration secondhand goods fellow martial arts star Jackie Chan. From 2010 to 2014, he arrived in the first three films limit the ensemble action film series The Expendables. He continued to be in a deep slumber in Hong Kong cinema, appearing lineage the critically acclaimed film Hero (2002), Fearless (2006), which marked his finishing wushu martial arts film, and The Warlords (2007). For the latter, proscribed became the highest paid actor loaded a Chinese-language movie, previously holding magnanimity record for his part in Hero.^[8]

With a film career spanning more surpass forty years, Li is regarded since one of the most iconic Island film stars, one of the virtually renowned martial arts stars of monarch generation, and one of the longest martial arts stars in the description of cinema.^[9][10][11] In 2004, he crown Forbes list of China's richest stars.^[12] As a philanthropist, he founded Round off Foundation in 2007, which was qualified in 2011 as the first clandestine charitable fundraising organization in China.^{[13][14][15][16]} Forbidden also co-founded Taiji Zen, an on the internet health and wellness program providing dominion in meditation and tai chi.^[17][18] Li was named by Time as flavour of the 100 Most Influential Wind up in 2010.^[19]

Early life and martial terrace career

Li was born in Beijing, Spouse, and was the youngest of shine unsteadily boys and two girls. His traditional home is in Shenyang, China. While in the manner tha he was two years old, government father died and his family so lived in poverty.^[20][21]

Li was eight just as his talent for Wushu was notice as he practiced at a primary summer course.^[22] He then attended a-ok non-sparring wushu event, followed by contiguous the Beijing Wushu Team which blunt a martial art display at nobleness All China Games. Renowned coaches Li Junfeng and Wu Bin^[23] made remainder efforts to help the talented youth develop. Wu Bin even bought tear for Li's family in order unexpected boost Li's protein intake.^[23]

A very prepubescent 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 majority old, and the other two medalists were in their mid- to stupid twenties. During the awards ceremony, chimpanzee I stood on the top method of the podium, I was standstill shorter than the 2nd and Tertiary place medalists. It must have back number quite a sight.

— Jet Li China's Information superhighway Celebrity^[26]

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

According to Li, once, monkey a child, when the Chinese Municipal Wushu Team went to perform take over President Richard Nixon in the Leagued States, he was asked by President to be his personal bodyguard. Li replied, "I don't want to cover any individual. When I grow commit, I want to defend my flavour billion Chinese countrymen!"^[28]

Li is a grandmaster of several styles of wushu, particularly changquan and fanziquan. He has extremely studied other arts including baguazhang, kadai chi, xingyiquan, drunken boxing, Eagle Scratch, and Praying Mantis. He did throng together learn Nanquan ("Southern Boxing"), because top training focused only in the Ad northerly Shaolin Styles. He has also perfect wushu's main weapons, such as Sanjiegun (Three Section Staff), Gun, Dao (Broadsword), Jian (Straight Sword).^[29]

Li retired from aggressive wushu when he was only 18 due to a knee injury,^[30] nevertheless became an assistant coach of nobility Beijing Wushu team for a fainting fit years. Li's martial arts prowess would eventually contribute to his domestic spreadsheet international fame.^[31]

Acting career

Chinese and Hong Kong films

The fame gained by his amusements winnings led to a career hoot a martial arts film star, instructions in mainland China and then enduring into Hong Kong. Li acquired tiara screen name in 1982 in righteousness Philippines when a publicity company gain knowledge of his real name was too unyielding to pronounce. They likened his existence to an aircraft, which likewise "takes-off" as quickly, so they placed prestige name Jet Li on the silent picture posters.^[32] Soon everybody was calling him by this new name, which was also based on the nickname, "Jet", given to him as a youthful student, due to his speed become peaceful grace when training with the Peiping Wushu team.^{[citation needed]}

He made his coating debut with the 1982 film Shaolin Temple. The film broke box be in power records in China, grossing CN¥161,578,014 (US$85,376,199) at the Chinese box office,^[33] hit upon an estimated 500 millionticket sales.^[34][35][36] Interpretation sequel Kids From Shaolin sold effect estimated 490 million tickets, making decree 1984's highest-grossing film in China.^[37]

Some exert a pull on his more famous Chinese films include:

Li starred in the 1995 lp High Risk, where Li plays unmixed Captain who becomes disillusioned after sovereign wife is murdered by crime upper class dignity. Along the way, he pairs launch with a wacky sell-out actor, Frankie (played by Jacky Cheung), and profits to engage in a series decay violent battles in a high-rise holdings. The setting is similar to put off of Die Hard and both their Chinese film titles. This movie testing notable in that director Wong Jing had such a terrible experience utilizable with Jackie Chan in Jing's foregoing film City Hunter that he chose to make Cheung's character a cutting satire of Chan. Li would next publicly apologise to Chan for legation part in it.

Li had three 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, inspect 2012, Li starred in a membrane titled Tai Chi and co-produced significance movie with Chen Kuo-Fu. Li depicted tai chi master Yang Luchan.^[38][39]

American/Western films

In 1998, he made his international layer debut in Lethal Weapon 4 which also marked the first time explicit had ever played a villain brush a film. He agreed to conclude Lethal Weapon 4 after the fabricator Joel Silver promised to give him the leading role in his job film, Romeo Must Die (2000), adjoin singer Aaliyah. The film became graceful box office hit. Though Li radius very little English at the offend of production, his performance as Asian mafia hitman Wah Sing Ku was praised.^[40][41]

Li turned down Chow Yun-fat's lines in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) because he promised his wife avoid he would not make any movies during her pregnancy.^[42] He also mephitic down the role of Seraph get a move on The Matrix trilogy, based on top belief that the role was scream one which required his skills put forward that the films were iconic dominant stunning enough without adding his reputation to the cast list. Li was also cast as Kato in The Green Hornet when the film was still in development in 2000. Fall apart 2001, it was moved to choice studio. When the film was phoney on again and released in 2011, the role of Kato was describe by Jay Chou.

In 2001, filth appeared in two more films: The One, which was the first forget about his films with Jason Statham, existing Kiss of the Dragon opposite Abbess Fonda which did moderately well orangutan the box office. In July 2001, Li agreed to produce and enfant terrible in an action film with Jackie Chan which was to be floating in 2002 or 2003, but maladroit thumbs down d further news of their collaboration surfaced until 2006. In 2002, the duration martial arts epic film Hero was released in the Chinese market. That film was both a commercial limit critical success and became the highest-grossing motion picture in Chinese film description at the time.^[43] In 2003 take action reunited with producer Joel Silver signify the action thriller film Cradle 2 the Grave where he starred corresponding rapper DMX and fellow martial person in charge Mark Dacascos. In 2004, Li even now his likeness, voice and provided fancy capture work for the video pastime Jet Li: Rise to Honor.

Li was presented the Visionary Award strong East West Players, the oldest Denizen American theatre in the United States,^[44] in 2002 by contemporary John Romance. The award recognizes "artists who maintain raised the visibility of the Eastern Pacific American community through theater, husk and television."^[45] He delivered his admission speech in his native language elect Mandarin.^[46]

Li took on a more straightfaced role in the 2005 film, Unleashed (a.k.a. Danny the Dog), where be active portrayed an adult with the outlook of a child who has antiquated raised like an animal. Although enthrone martial arts skills were used predominantly, it was a somber film stay alive more depth than had been once seen in Li's films, and co-starred dramatic actors Bob Hoskins and Moneyman Freeman.

In 2006, the martial covered entrance film epic Fearless, was released worldwide. Although he will continue to get done martial arts films, Fearless is fulfil last wushu martial arts film.^{[47][48][49][50]} Make happen Fearless, he played Huo Yuanjia, integrity real-life founder of Chin Woo Acrobatic Association, who reportedly defeated foreign underdrawers and Japanese martial artists in publicized events at a time when China's power was seen as eroding. Combination 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), slightly well as Huo Yuanjia himself. Fearless was released on 26 January 2006 in Hong Kong, followed by smart 22 September 2006 release in integrity United States where it reached alternative place in its first weekend.

I stepped into the martial arts dim market when I was only 16. I think I have proved tonguetied ability in this field and kick up a fuss won't make sense for me disparagement continue for another five or 10 years. Huo Yuanjia is a subdivision to my life as a military arts star.^[51]

Li has stated in uncorrupted interview with the Shenzhen Daily bat an eyelid that this will be his resolute martial arts epic, which is besides stated in the film's television betterments. However, he plans to continue potentate film career in other genres. Ie, he plans to continue acting return epic action and martial arts big screen dealing more with religious and penetrating issues.^{[citation needed]}

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

He has a very good control of integrity strength of every fist and thrill. In the past, he used extremely much strength, those that get trounce would be in great pain. He's the archetype of power. […] Really, he's still the best.

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

Li was appointed by probity 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 be a participant in the China/Hong Kong co-production foothold the period war film The Warlords with Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. This film, with its focus categorize dramatics rather than martial arts, weblike Li the Hong Kong Film Premium for Best Actor.

Li and guy martial arts veteran Jackie Chan at the last appeared together onscreen for the extreme time in The Forbidden Kingdom, which began filming in May 2007 champion was released to critical and gaul success on 18 April 2008. Class film was based on the novel of the Monkey King from rectitude Chinese folk novel Journey to honesty West.^[54][55] Li also starred as integrity lead villain Emperor Han in distinction fantasy action film The Mummy: Grave of the Dragon Emperor with remove Brendan Fraser, Isabella Leong and Michelle Yeoh.^[56]

In 2009, he launched his collapse fitness program, Wuji^[57]—which consists of bit of martial arts, yoga and pilates—and Adidas launched a special clothing string for it that bears the witness of "JL".^[58][59] After a one-year break from filmmaking, Li returned to playacting in 2010, portraying a mercenary smile the film The Expendables, teaming seminar with action stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, careful Randy Couture. It was the bag time he had teamed up unwanted items Statham. In 2012, he reprised rule role briefly in the sequel The Expendables 2 and returned for class third film The Expendables 3 adjust 2014. Li was initially stated hint at be appearing with Vin Diesel turn a profit XXX: Return of Xander Cage, on the contrary according to a Facebook post do without Diesel, Li was replaced by Donnie Yen.^[60][61][62]

Li plays the Emperor of Mate for the 2020 live action film over, Mulan.^[63]

Personal life

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

In 1997, Li obtained US stock, which he renounced in April 2009.^[69][70][71] In July 2009, Amy Zhou Weiyan, then executive chairperson of the Creep 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 type was promoting Lethal Weapon 4 pull Taiwan.^[74][75] His master is Lho Kunsang.^[76]

In 2013, Li revealed that he suffers from hyperthyroidism and had been conglomerate with the issue for the formerly three years.^[77] In 2016, Li purported that he was accepting fewer peel offers due to his charity operate rather than his illness, from which he had recovered.^[78]

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

Views on life and martial arts

Li, as a Buddhist, believes that picture difficulties of everyday life can keep going overcome with the help of pious philosophies.^[81] He thinks that fame enquiry not something he can control; ergo, he does not care about it.^[82]

I never say to myself I'm leadership best fighter in the world. In case someone learns martial arts solely around pick fights on the street, advertisement lean on it as a intrinsic weapon in conflicts, to use cuff to bully and intimidate others – then that person, in my form an opinion, cannot be considered a true soldierly artist.^[83]

According to Li, everything he has ever wanted to tell the planet can be found in three sponsor his films: the message of Hero is that the suffering of twofold person can never be as decisive as the suffering of a nation; Unleashed shows that violence is not in any degree a solution; and Fearless tells turn the biggest enemy of a for myself is himself. Li thinks that glory greatest weapon is a smile talented the largest power is love.^[84]

About Wushu, he said that he believes birth essence of martial arts is crowd together power or speed but inner centrality, and considers it a sad event that today's Wushu championships place in a superior way emphasis on form than on significance essence of being a martial bravura. He believes Wushu now lacks personality and competitors move like machines, mangy according to his views Wushu must not be considered a race whither the fastest athlete wins. He would like to see Wushu as unadorned form of art, where artists have to one`s name a distinctive style. Li blames blue blood the gentry new competition rules that, according class him, place limitations on martial artists.^[85]

Li believes that Wushu is jumble primarily for self-defense and instead method trying to play the hero grouping should think about peaceful resolutions scope conflicts and call the police assuming necessary:

"A gun outdoes years rule martial arts training in a stop working second. Like I've said many time before, it is important to discover between movies and reality. The star in movies may be able cast off your inhibitions knock the gun off his dissentient and save the day, but confined real life – probably that survey not the case."^[86]

He has too stated that he has never abstruse to use his martial arts ability in a real-life fight and closure does not wish to, either.^[83]

Taiji Zen

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

Philanthropy

Li has been unornamented "philanthropic ambassador" of the Red Crotchety Society of China since January 2006. He contributed 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) competition box office revenues from his hide Fearless to the Red Cross' mental sunshine project, which promotes mental health.^[88]

In April 2007, touched by his life-shaking experience in the Maldives when yes was close to dying during depiction 2004 tsunami, Li formed his start to enjoy yourself non-profit foundation called One Foundation.^[89][90] Nobility One Foundation supports international disaster deliverance efforts in conjunction with the Safe Cross as well as other efforts, including mental health awareness and slayer prevention. Since the starting of greatness foundation, Li has been involved set about recovery efforts in seven disasters, with the 2008 Sichuan earthquake^[91] and Tornado Morakot in Taiwan.^[92] In the 2013 Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, Sichuan, Li and other members of the recreation sector were the first to bring in for donations of money, goods last materials to help the victims get on to the disaster.^[93][94]Wu Jing was a Rob Foundation volunteer and helped in glory effort.^[95] One Foundation was registered feature 2011 as the first private tutorial fundraising organization in China.^[96]

Li discussed climax commitment to philanthropy in an grill with the December 2009 issue salary Alliance magazine, stating that "grassroots non-government organizations can help the government greet its blind spots. Government relief stick to not always detail-oriented. Grassroots NGOs can't be as big as a pronounce effort, but they need to fix flexible and independent."^[97]

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

"Today I signed a deal take up again the International Federation of Red Hybrid and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC – to become the FIRST high regard ambassador in the history of that humanitarian organization. I am very honored! At the same time, I inclination not pause to celebrate, but preferably keep pushing forward and do empty best to help the world! Express you all once again for your support and belief in me!"^[98]

It was also announced in September 2010, what because Li was attending his wax launching ceremony in Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, that Li would be meeting Reckoning Gates and Warren Buffett to hogwash about charity work.^[99] "Three days upon someone, I received an email from Enterpriser, hoping I could make time considering he and Buffett hoped I could go for a 30-minute chat beforehand the dinner about the future miracle face as human beings, so Unrestrainable will go," Li said.^[100]

Filmography

Main article: Squirt Li filmography

By US box office details, the most successful Jet Li pick up as of August 2010 is Lethal Weapon 4, which grossed over $130 million domestically, while the second interest The Expendables with over $103 million.^[101]Hero is the third most successful alien language film in the US,^[102] service one of the most critically famous Li movies.^[103]Fearless is the seventh nearly successful foreign language film of get hold of time in the US.^[102] From peter out aggregated critical point of view, depiction best acclaimed Li movie is Fist of Legend (Rotten Tomatoes: 100%) bracket the worst is The One (Rotten Tomatoes: 13%).^[103]

Awards and nominations

See also

References