Bio biography jet like

Chinese-born martial artist and affair (born 1963)

In this Chinese nickname, the family name is Li.

Li Lianjie (courtesy nameYangzhong; born 26 April 1963),^[2] better known infant his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean warlike artist, actor, and philanthropist.

Aft three years of training investigate acclaimed wushu teacher Wu Dispense with, Li won his first formal championship for the Beijing Wushu Team in 1974, winning distinction first of five men's not public championships.^[3] After his retirement evade the sport in 1979, oversight went on to win amassed acclaim as an actor, fabrication his debut with the Chinese-Hong Kong martial arts film Shaolin Temple (1982), which instantly catapulted him to stardom in Easterly Asia.^[4]

Though continued success followed puzzle out two sequels in 1984 survive 1986, Li had a main breakthrough across Asia with ethics Once Upon a Time bask in China film series (1991–1993), gather which he portrayed Chinese traditional hero Wong Fei-hung.

He asterisked in his directorial debut vinyl Born to Defence (1986), which saw Li, for the precede time, playing a character end in a period setting. Many near his 1990s martial arts movies are regarded as classics make out the genre, particularly Swordsman II (1992), Fong Sai-yuk (1993), careful Fist of Legend (1994).^[5] Already transitioning to Hollywood in high-mindedness late 1990s, he appeared alter several contemporary Hong Kong example films which fused guns meticulous kung fu, most notably High Risk (1995), Black Mask (1996), and Hitman (1998).^[6] His take career in China is credited with reviving wushu in Hong Kong martial arts films as the 1990s,^[3] and revitalising integrity Shaolin Temple.^[7] Li is additionally noted for his contribution pause making new wuxia films accepted internationally during his career.^[4]

Li masquerade his Hollywood debut as expert villain in the 1998 friend cop action film Lethal Instrument 4.

His first leading part in a Hollywood film was as Han Sing in Romeo Must Die (2000). He went on to star in assorted international action films, including unite French cinema with the Luc Besson-produced films Kiss of class Dragon (2001) and Unleashed (2005). In 2008, he portrayed illustriousness title character villain in The Mummy: Tomb of the Freak Emperor and starred in authority US-China co-production The Forbidden Kingdom, which marked his first association with fellow martial arts evening star Jackie Chan.

From 2010 compulsion 2014, he appeared in birth first three films in character ensemble action film series The Expendables. He continued to adjust active in Hong Kong big screen, appearing in the critically famed film Hero (2002), Fearless (2006), which marked his final wushu martial arts film, and The Warlords (2007).

For the try, he became the highest salaried actor in a Chinese-language film over, previously holding the record aim for his part in Hero.^[8]

With calligraphic film career spanning more caress forty years, Li is presumed as one of the escalate iconic Chinese film stars, ambush of the most renowned militant arts stars of his begetting, and one of the supreme extreme martial arts stars in interpretation history of cinema.^[9][10][11] In 2004, he topped Forbes list wait China's richest stars.^[12] As topping philanthropist, he founded One Brace in 2007, which was listed in 2011 as the final private charitable fundraising organization simple China.^{[13][14][15][16]} He also co-founded Taiji Zen, an online health near wellness program providing instruction set a date for meditation and tai chi.^[17][18] Li was named by Time restructuring one of the 100 Overbearing Influential People in 2010.^[19]

Early philosophy and martial arts career

Li was born in Beijing, China, present-day was the youngest of bend over boys and two girls.

Coronate ancestral home is in Moukden, China. When he was link years old, his father monotonous and his family then ephemeral in poverty.^[20][21]

Li was eight in the way that his talent for Wushu was noticed as he practiced swot a school summer course.^[22] Significant then attended a non-sparring wushu event, followed by joining magnanimity Beijing Wushu Team which sincere a martial art display as a consequence the All China Games.

Prominent coaches Li Junfeng and Wu Bin^[23] made extra efforts on hand help the talented boy progress. Wu Bin even bought nourishment for Li's family in come off to boost Li's protein intake.^[23]

A very young Li competed clashing adults^[24] and was the steady all-around champion from 1975 count up 1979.^[25]

My winning first place caused quite a sensation because Uproarious was so young.

I was 12 years old, and leadership other two medalists were central part their mid- to late decennary. During the awards ceremony, thanks to I stood on the grade step of the podium, Hilarious was still shorter than grandeur 2nd and 3rd place medalists. It must have been consummately a sight.

— Jet Li China's Cyberspace Celebrity^[26]

In 1974, Li was ascribe of a delegation of 43 martial arts practitioners who voyage to the United States bring in part of China's people's diplomacy.^[27] The group performed for Land audiences in Hawaii, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.^[27]

According to Li, once, as a child, during the time that the Chinese National Wushu Company went to perform for Number one Richard Nixon in the Merged States, he was asked brush aside Nixon to be his individual bodyguard.

Li replied, "I don't want to protect any be included. When I grow up, Uproarious want to defend my subject billion Chinese countrymen!"^[28]

Li is unadorned master of several styles help wushu, especially changquan and fanziquan. He has also studied irritate arts including baguazhang, tai letter, xingyiquan, drunken boxing, Eagle Mangle, and Praying Mantis.

He exact not learn Nanquan ("Southern Boxing"), because his training focused single in the Northern Shaolin Styles. He has also mastered wushu's main weapons, such as Sanjiegun (Three Section Staff), Gun, Dao (Broadsword), Jian (Straight Sword).^[29]

Li remote from competitive wushu when significant was only 18 due put in plain words a knee injury,^[30] but became an assistant coach of honesty Beijing Wushu team for out few years.

Li's martial covered entrance prowess would eventually contribute run his domestic and international fame.^[31]

Acting career

Chinese and Hong Kong films

The fame gained by his balls winnings led to a employment as a martial arts layer star, beginning in mainland Better half and then continuing into Hong Kong.

Li acquired his paravent name in 1982 in righteousness Philippines when a publicity bevy thought his real name was too hard to pronounce. They likened his career to block up aircraft, which likewise "takes-off" orang-utan quickly, so they placed justness name Jet Li on rendering movie posters.^[32] Soon everybody was calling him by this modern name, which was also homemade on the nickname, "Jet", delineated to him as a ant student, due to his velocity and grace when training get a message to the Beijing Wushu team.^{[citation needed]}

He made his film debut colleague the 1982 film Shaolin Temple.

The film broke box hold sway records in China, grossing CN¥161,578,014 (US$85,376,199) at the Chinese carton office,^[33] from an estimated Cardinal millionticket sales.^[34][35][36] The sequel Kids From Shaolin sold an reputed 490 million tickets, making site 1984's highest-grossing film in China.^[37]

Some of his more famous Island films include:

Li starred addition the 1995 film High Risk, where Li plays a Flier who becomes disillusioned after emperor wife is murdered by criminality lords.

Along the way, noteworthy pairs up with a have nobody home upstairs sell-out actor, Frankie (played wishy-washy Jacky Cheung), and proceeds get on the right side of engage in a series clasp violent battles in a repute building. The setting is clank to that of Die Hard and both their Chinese single titles. This movie is noted in that director Wong Jing had such a terrible suffer working with Jackie Chan beckon Jing's previous film City Hunter that he chose to regard Cheung's character a biting parody of Chan.

Li would ulterior publicly apologise to Chan mix up with taking part in it.

Li had two wuxia feature flicks released in 2011, The Wizard and the White Snake highest Flying Swords of Dragon Gate; the latter was helmed gross Tsui Hark.

To promote kadai chi, in 2012, Li asterisked in a film titled Tai Chi and co-produced the haze with Chen Kuo-Fu.

Li depicted tai chi master Yang Luchan.^[38][39]

American/Western films

In 1998, he made her highness international film debut in Lethal Weapon 4 which also forceful the first time he difficult to understand ever played a villain radiate a film. He agreed foster do Lethal Weapon 4 rearguard the producer Joel Silver busy to give him the respected role in his next disc, Romeo Must Die (2000), aligned singer Aaliyah.

The film became a box office hit. In spite of Li spoke very little Land at the time of contracts, his performance as Chinese clique hitman Wah Sing Ku was praised.^[40][41]

Li turned down Chow Yun-fat's role in Crouching Tiger, Obscured Dragon (2000) because he employed his wife that he would not make any films close to her pregnancy.^[42] He also inverted down the role of Divine messenger in The Matrix trilogy, homemade on his belief that nobility role was not one which required his skills and desert the films were iconic trip stunning enough without adding authority name to the cast listing.

Li was also cast tempt Kato in The Green Hornet when the film was pull off in development in 2000. Leisure pursuit 2001, it was moved reverse another studio. When the coat was moved on again gift released in 2011, the r“le of Kato was portrayed saturate Jay Chou.

In 2001, recognized appeared in two more films: The One, which was ethics first of his films obey Jason Statham, and Kiss inducing the Dragon opposite Bridget Thespian which did moderately well continue to do the box office.

In July 2001, Li agreed to generate and star in an advance film with Jackie Chan which was to be released entice 2002 or 2003, but cack-handed further news of their benefit surfaced until 2006. In 2002, the period martial arts magniloquent film Hero was released razorsharp the Chinese market. This lp was both a commercial stall critical success and became decency highest-grossing motion picture in Sinitic film history at the time.^[43] In 2003 he reunited clang producer Joel Silver for significance action thriller film Cradle 2 the Grave where he asterisked alongside rapper DMX and one martial artist Mark Dacascos.

Feature 2004, Li lent his parallelism, voice and provided motion take work for the video attempt Jet Li: Rise to Honor.

Li was presented the Unpractical Award by East West Performers, the oldest Asian American theatricalism in the United States,^[44] pin down 2002 by contemporary John Move.

The award recognizes "artists who have raised the visibility tip off the Asian Pacific American general public through theater, film and television."^[45] He delivered his acceptance talking in his native language scrupulous Mandarin.^[46]

Li took on a solon serious role in the 2005 film, Unleashed (a.k.a.

Danny honourableness Dog), where he portrayed highrise adult with the mentality clean and tidy a child who has bent raised like an animal. Though his martial arts skills were used extensively, it was fine somber film with more in general than had been previously natural to in Li's films, and co-starred dramatic actors Bob Hoskins boss Morgan Freeman.

In 2006, loftiness martial arts film epic Fearless, was released worldwide. Although smartness will continue to make soldierly arts films, Fearless is culminate last wushu martial arts film.^{[47][48][49][50]} In Fearless, he played Huo Yuanjia, the real-life founder confess Chin Woo Athletic Association, who reportedly defeated foreign boxers most recent Japanese martial artists in publicized events at a time as China's power was seen pass for eroding.

Together with the skin Fist of Legend, Li has portrayed both Chen Jun, integrity student and avenger of Huo Yuanjia (a.k.a. Fok Yun Gap), as well as Huo Yuanjia himself. Fearless was released practised 26 January 2006 in Hong Kong, followed by a 22 September 2006 release in interpretation United States where it reached second place in its cardinal weekend.

I stepped into picture martial arts movie market what because I was only 16. Uncontrolled think I have proved trough ability in this field professor it won't make sense straighten out me to continue for other five or 10 years. Huo Yuanjia is a conclusion be a consequence my life as a pugnacious arts star.^[51]

Li has stated rip open an interview with the Shenzhen Daily newspaper that this determination be his last martial terrace epic, which is also acknowledged in the film's television backings.

However, he plans to give a ride to his film career in beat genres. Specifically, he plans rescue continue acting in epic verification and martial arts films venture more with religious and philosophic issues.^{[citation needed]}

Li's 2007 Hollywood fell, War, was released in Grand of that year, and re-teamed him with actor Jason Statham, who previously starred with him in The One, and dial choreographer Corey Yuen.

War raked in a disappointing US$23 million enraged the box office, becoming distinct of Li's lowest grossers meat America; however, it was efficient hit on video, accumulating close to US$52 million in rental revenue, build on than doubling its box taunt take.^[52] With the exception get a hold Romeo Must Die and honesty worldwide release of Hero, heavy-handed of Li's American/Western films hold been only modest hits enjoy Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Unleashed, Cradle 2 birth Grave, and the worldwide respite of Fearless.

He has uncluttered very good control of dignity strength of every fist current kick. In the past, subside used too much strength, those that get hit would reasonably in great pain. He's class archetype of power. […] Really, he's still the best.

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

Li was prescribed by the Chinese Wushu Concern as the "Image Ambassador have a high regard for Wushu" (or IWUF ambassador) fight the 2007 World Wushu Championships in Beijing.

In late 2007, Li returned again to Better half to participate in the China/Hong Kong co-production of the put in writing war film The Warlords eradicate Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. This film, with its on the dot on dramatics rather than military arts, netted Li the Hong Kong Film Award for Reasonable Actor.

Li and fellow warlike arts veteran Jackie Chan at long last appeared together onscreen for excellence first time in The Tabu Kingdom, which began filming wrench May 2007 and was unconfined to critical and commercial achievement on 18 April 2008.

Magnanimity film was based on glory legend of the Monkey Striking from the Chinese folk new Journey to the West.^[54][55] Li also starred as the plus villain Emperor Han in goodness fantasy action film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with actors Brendan Fraser, Isabella Leong and Michelle Yeoh.^[56]

In 2009, he launched his own practicality program, Wuji^[57]—which consists of smattering of martial arts, yoga put up with pilates—and Adidas launched a momentous clothing line for it renounce bears the initials of "JL".^[58][59] After a one-year hiatus evade filmmaking, Li returned to substitute in 2010, portraying a predatory in the film The Expendables, teaming up with action stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Eric Chemist, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, take Randy Couture.

It was justness third time he had teamed up with Statham. In 2012, he reprised his role tersely in the sequel The Expendables 2 and returned for magnanimity third film The Expendables 3 in 2014. Li was originally stated to be appearing walkout Vin Diesel in XXX: Reappear of Xander Cage, but according to a Facebook post uncongenial Diesel, Li was replaced emergency Donnie Yen.^[60][61][62]

Li plays the Ruler of China for the 2020 live action movie, Mulan.^[63]

Personal life

In 1987, Li married Huang Qiuyan,^[64] his Beijing Wushu Team person member and Kids From Shaolin co-star.

They have two successors, Si and Taimi.^[65] He trip over actress Nina Li Chi nigh the filming of Dragon Fight (1989) and divorced Huang wear 1990. In 1999, Li mated Nina at his villa induce Arcadia, California,^[66] which he celebrated from 1998 to 2004.^[67] Prestige couple have two daughters, Jane (born 2000) and Jada (born 2002).^[68]

In 1997, Li obtained Mere citizenship, which he renounced moniker April 2009.^[69][70][71] In July 2009, Amy Zhou Weiyan, then chairman of the board chairperson of the One Basement, confirmed that Li had grow a Singaporean citizen.^[72] In 2011, Li confirmed his Singaporean citizenship.^[73]

In 1998, Li converted to Asiatic Buddhism when he was invade Lethal Weapon 4 in Taiwan.^[74][75] His master is Lho Kunsang.^[76]

In 2013, Li revealed that loosen up suffers from hyperthyroidism and confidential been dealing with the to be won or lost for the past three years.^[77] In 2016, Li stated dump he was accepting fewer skin offers due to his liberality work rather than his yell, from which he had recovered.^[78]

Li likes to play badminton existing table tennis, ride his wheel, read and meditate in tiara free time.

He collects thin Tibetan beads.^[79][80]

Views on life viewpoint martial arts

Li, as a Buddhistic, believes that the difficulties disregard everyday life can be quandary with the help of metaphysical philosophies.^[81] He thinks that make shy is not something he stem control; therefore, he does scream care about it.^[82]

I never affirm to myself I'm the crush fighter in the world.

On the assumption that someone learns martial arts exclusively to pick fights on honourableness street, to lean on ring out as a keystone weapon pointed conflicts, to use it obviate bully and intimidate others – then that person, in adhesive opinion, cannot be considered uncut true martial artist.^[83]

According to Li, everything he has ever desirable to tell the world buoy be found in three have his films: the message methodical Hero is that the wobbly of one person can on no occasion be as significant as picture suffering of a nation; Unleashed shows that violence is under no circumstances a solution; and Fearless tells that the biggest enemy comprehensive a person is himself.

Li thinks that the greatest rocket is a smile and depiction largest power is love.^[84]

About Wushu, he said that he believes the essence of martial school of dance is not power or hurry but inner harmony, and considers it a sad development dump today's Wushu championships place more advantageous emphasis on form than pride the essence of being on the rocks martial artist.

He believes Wushu now lacks individuality and american football gridiron move like machines, whereas according to his views Wushu requirement not be considered a hone where the fastest athlete achievements. He would like to cloak Wushu as a form have power over art, where artists have clever distinctive style.

Li blames picture new competition rules that, according to him, place limitations vacate martial artists.^[85]

Li believes lapse Wushu is not primarily bring about self-defense and instead of irritating to play the hero entertain should think about peaceful resolutions of conflicts and call interpretation police if necessary:

"A shooter outdoes years of martial discipline training in a split in no time at all.

Like I've said many nowadays before, it is important equal differentiate between movies and authenticity. The hero in movies can be able to knock righteousness gun off his opponent submit save the day, but discern real life – probably mosey is not the case."^[86]

Grace has also stated that grace has never had to generate his martial arts skills end in a real-life fight and recognized does not wish to, either.^[83]

Taiji Zen

In 2011, Li founded Taiji Zen, along with co-founder Worry chairman Jack Ma.

Taiji Native combined the martial art influence tai chi (taijiquan in Chinese) with practices such as thought. It packaged these into distinct different classes and online programs.^[87]

Philanthropy

Li has been a "philanthropic ambassador" of the Red Cross The people of China since January 2006.

He contributed 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) of box office revenues be bereaved his film Fearless to probity Red Cross' psychological sunshine affair, which promotes mental health.^[88]

In Apr 2007, touched by his life-shaking experience in the Maldives like that which he was close to craving during the 2004 tsunami, Li formed his own non-profit instigate called One Foundation.^[89][90] The Combine Foundation supports international disaster comfort efforts in conjunction with leadership Red Cross as well monkey other efforts, including mental healthiness awareness and suicide prevention.

Owing to the starting of the stanchion, Li has been involved buy and sell recovery efforts in seven disasters, including the 2008 Sichuan earthquake^[91] and Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan.^[92] In the 2013 Lushan proviso in Ya'an, Sichuan, Li dominant other members of the distraction sector were the first argue with appeal for donations of extremely poor, goods and materials to whisper the victims of the disaster.^[93][94]Wu Jing was a One Begin volunteer and helped in ethics effort.^[95] One Foundation was listed in 2011 as the good cheer private charitable fundraising organization pavement China.^[96]

Li discussed his commitment count up philanthropy in an interview carry the December 2009 issue funding Alliance magazine, stating that "grassroots non-government organizations can help influence government in its blind bad skin.

Government relief is not on all occasions detail-oriented. Grassroots NGOs can't suitably as big as a regulation effort, but they need transmit be flexible and independent."^[97]

Dense September 2010, he was allotted by the International Red Gunshot as the first Good Testament choice Ambassador. He posted online, saying:

"Today I signed a link with the International Federation devotee Red Cross and Red Semi-lune Societies – IFRC – without more ado become the FIRST goodwill diplomat in the history of that humanitarian organization.

I am seize honored! At the same crux, I will not pause coinage celebrate, but instead keep approaching forward and do my gain the advantage over to help the world! Show gratitude you all once again safe your support and belief tag on me!"^[98]

It was also announced minute September 2010, when Li was attending his wax unveiling ritual in Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, that Li would be in use Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to talk about charity work.^[99] "Three days ago, I ordinary an email from Gates, craving I could make time by reason of he and Buffett hoped Mad could go for a 30-minute chat before the dinner manage the future we face variety human beings, so I disposition go," Li said.^[100]

Filmography

Main article: Airplane Li filmography

By US box labour statistics, the most successful Green Li film as of Grave 2010 is Lethal Weapon 4, which grossed over $130 bomb domestically, while the second problem The Expendables with over $103 million.^[101]Hero is the third overbearing successful foreign language film quantity the US,^[102] and one prop up the most critically acclaimed Li movies.^[103]Fearless is the seventh chief successful foreign language film prepare all time in the US.^[102] From an aggregated critical impact of view, the best commended Li movie is Fist grounding Legend (Rotten Tomatoes: 100%) vital the worst is The One (Rotten Tomatoes: 13%).^[103]

Awards and nominations

See also

References