Jet Li

At the age of 17, Jet Li retired from wushu after achieving great success in the sport. He transitioned to acting and went on to become a prominent figure in the martial arts film genre.

Jet Li, whose real name is Li Lian Jie, was born on April 26, 1963, in Beijing, China. He is a renowned Chinese martial artist, actor, and film producer who later became an international film star.

In 1971, at the age of nine, Jet Li entered a summer sports program and was randomly assigned to a wushu (martial arts) class. He received an award at the first wushu competition held in China since the Cultural Revolution. Li went on to win five men's national championships before retiring from the sport in 1979.

At his first National Wushu Championships in 1974, Jet Li demonstrated his knowledge and skills by integrating various martial arts styles. He excelled in compulsories, swordplay, spearplay, routine boxing, Pu swordplay, and two-man sparring, becoming the All-Around Champion.

At the age of eleven, Jet Li became the top star of the Beijing Wushu Team, winning the All-Around Champion title in the National Wushu Championships. This marked the beginning of his journey to becoming one of China's greatest wushu stars and national sports heroes.

Li accepts the role of Guer Yuen in the movie Shaolin Temple, where he defends the Shaolin Temple against corrupt troops. He prepares for the role by consulting acting coaches and learning authentic martial arts.

Jet Li reprised his role in Shaolin Temple 2 (1983), facing the formidable adversary Yu Cheng-Hui in this popular sequel.

Jet Li starred in Shaolin Temple 3 (1986), also known as The Martial Arts of Shaolin, which is considered a fan favorite for its action and production values.

In 1987, Jet Li married Beijing Wushu Team member and Kids from Shaolin co-star Huang Qiuyan. They later divorced in 1990.

Jet Li starred in the 'Once Upon A Time In China' series starting from 1991, portraying the iconic folk hero Wong Fei-hung. His performance in these critically acclaimed martial arts epic films further solidified his status as a leading action star.

In 1992, Jet Li starred in 'Swordsman 2', a commercially successful film that blended magical martial arts world of wuxia with jaw-dropping wire-fu.

The Tai Chi Master, directed by Yuen Woo Ping, is considered one of the top martial arts film classics of all time. In this movie, Jet Li portrays the early years of Zhang San Feng and his development of tai chi, showcasing dynamic and elegant kung fu and acting.

After a successful year in 1993, Jet Li delivered his 'magnum opus' in Fist of Legend in 1994, a classic representation of martial arts that paid homage to Bruce Lee's Fist of Legend.

In 1995, Jet Li starred in Fist of Legend, a remake of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury. Li portrayed the character Chen Zhen, paying homage to Bruce Lee while showcasing outstanding martial arts choreography.

In 1997, Jet Li initially decided to retire from movies to study Buddhism. However, after spiritual guidance, he started his American journey with a mission to introduce Buddhism to the West through non-traditional media.

In 1998, Jet Li made his Hollywood debut as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4, marking a significant milestone in his career and paving the way for his international success.

Jet Li starred in the modern hip-hop action movie Romeo Must Die, which performed well at the box-office but disappointed many fans of his earlier martial arts adventures.

Jet Li took on his first Hollywood film leading role in Romeo Must Die in 2000, showcasing his martial arts skills to a wider audience.

In 2001, Jet Li starred in the Luc Besson-produced French film Kiss of the Dragon and the sci-fi action film The One.

In 2002, Jet Li starred in Yingxiong (Hero), directed by Zhang Yimou, a martial arts spectacle centered around assassins targeting the first emperor of China, receiving critical acclaim for his performance.

Jet Li was in the Maldives when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck. Despite initial reports of his death, he survived with a minor foot injury while guiding his daughters and nanny to safety.

In 2005, Jet Li delivered a notable performance in Unleashed (Danny the Dog) as a man raised by a gangster, showcasing his versatility as an actor in a complex role.

The martial arts film epic Fearless, starring Jet Li as Huo Yuanjia, was released worldwide. It was his last wushu epic film, portraying the real-life founder of Chin Woo Athletic Association.

In April 2007, Jet Li founded his own non-profit foundation called The One Foundation. The foundation supports international disaster relief efforts, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention.

Jet Li's Hollywood film War was released in August 2007, re-teaming him with actor Jason Statham. Despite being a disappointment at the box office, it performed well in video rentals.

Jet Li and Jackie Chan appeared together onscreen for the first time in The Forbidden Kingdom, released in April 2008. The film was based on the legend of the Monkey King from the Chinese folk novel Journey to the West.

In 2009, Jet Li renounced his US citizenship and launched his fitness program, Wuji, which combines martial arts, yoga, and pilates. He also became a Singaporean citizen.

As of August 2010, Jet Li's most successful films in the US box office include Lethal Weapon 4, The Expendables, Hero, and Fearless. Each film achieved significant domestic and international success.

In September 2010, Jet Li was appointed as the first Good Will Ambassador by the International Red Cross. He expressed his honor and commitment to helping the world through humanitarian efforts.

In 2011, Jet Li starred in the 3-D action film Longmen Feijia (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate) directed by Tsui Hark.

In 2012, Jet Li starred in a film titled Tai Chi to promote the martial art, where he also co-produced the movie with Chen Kuo-Fu and portrayed tai chi master Yang Luchan.

In 2013, Jet Li revealed that he suffers from hyperthyroidism, a condition he had been dealing with for the past three years.

Jet Li played the emperor in the 2020 live-action remake of Mulan, showcasing his continued presence in both Hollywood and Chinese cinema.