Jet Li

Jet Li
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Name:
Jet Li
Who is:
, martial arts master
Birth date:
(62 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Beijing, China
Height:
5'6 ft ()
Weight:
132 lb (60 kg)
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Jet Li

Jet Li photo 1
Jet Li photo 2
Jet Li photo 3
Jet Li photo 4
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Jet Li biography

Jet Li is a famous Chinese and Singaporean film actor, film producer, and martial artist. His most famous films include "Kiss of the Dragon" (2001), "Hero" (2002), "Unleashed" (2005), and "The Expendables" (2010). Net worth: $250 million.
Pictured: Jet Li
Pictured: Jet Li

Childhood and Early Life

Jet Li (real name Li Lianjie) was born on April 26, 1963, in Beijing into a large family. Jet Li had two elder brothers and two elder sisters. His father died before Jet turned two, leaving the family to face difficult times.
Jet Li in childhood
Jet Li in childhood
Jet Li's martial arts talent was already evident when he was just 8 years old. He quickly showed impressive results in various city competitions. In 1972 he joined the Beijing wushu team, which represented the capital at the All China Games, and two years later represented his country in the USA.

During competitions, famous coaches noticed the boy and began developing his athletic abilities. One coach even bought food for Jet's family since they couldn't afford meat, which was essential for proper muscle development.
Jet Li in childhood and young ages
Jet Li in childhood and young ages
Consistent training began paying off at the Chinese Wushu Championship. 12-year-old Jet Li competed against adult athletes and won fifteen gold and one silver medal.

During award ceremony I was standing on the highest podium step and still was shorter than second and third place winners.


In 1977 the young man became a champion in Dao sword competitions. Later, Jet Li became a master in several wushu styles while also studying other Chinese martial arts and mastering the main types of wushu weapons.

Acting career

Li Lianjie's sports fame led him into the film industry - first in China, then in Hong Kong. The future actor received his stage name «Jet Li» in 1982 in the Philippines, when an advertising company said his real name was too complicated to pronounce. PR specialists stepped in and compared Li's successful career to a skyrocketing aircraft. Posters for the sportsman's debut film «Shaolin Temple» displayed the name Jet Li.
The fame gained in sports has led Li Lianjie to the film industry
The fame gained in sports has led Li Lianjie to the film industry
Jet Li's most famous movies included «Once Upon a Time in China» (1991), «The Legend» (1993), and «Fist of the Legend» (1994), plus a remake of Bruce Lee's movie «Fist of Fury» (1972).

According to Zoomboola.com, in 1998 Jet made his debut in the American action movie «Lethal Weapon 4» with Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci. Remarkably, it was the first movie in which the actor played a villain.

Two years later, producer Joel Silver invited Jet to play a leading role in the film «Romeo Must Die», which also starred the now-deceased singer Aaliyah. The film became a real blockbuster and Jet Li received a residual payment of $2.4 million. Despite Jet Li's poor English, his performance as the Chinese mafia member was highly praised by critics.
Jet Li starring Romeo Must Die
Jet Li starring Romeo Must Die
In 2000 Jet Li had to turn down starring in Ang Lee's Chinese action film «Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon» because he had promised his wife he wouldn't act in movies during her pregnancy. The role offered to Jet went to Chow Yun-fat, and the film became the most profitable foreign language film in US history. Jet could have also taken a role in «The Matrix» trilogy, but the actor said such a role wouldn't require his martial arts skills.

However, Jet eventually starred in several other significant films. In 2001 he starred in high-budget action films «The One» (his first time starring alongside Jason Statham) and «Kiss of the Dragon» with Bridget Fonda. One of Jet Li's most remarkable roles came in Zhang Yimou's fantasy drama «Hero», where he played the Nameless assassin hired by the king.
In 2001 Jet Li has starred in Kiss of the Dragon.
In 2001 Jet Li has starred in Kiss of the Dragon.
In 2003 he worked with Joel Silver again on «Cradle 2 the Grave», where he starred alongside rapper DMX and martial artist Mark Dacascos. In 2004 Jet participated in creating the videogame Jet Li: «Rise to Honor» for PlayStation 2.

In 2005 Jet Li took on a serious dramatic role in the film «Unleashed», where he starred as a man raised in harsh conditions. Although Jet used his martial arts skills in this film, this project was much different from his other works due to its higher dramatic content.
Dramatic role of Jet Li in Unleashed.
Dramatic role of Jet Li in Unleashed.
In 2006, Ronny Yu's drama film «Fearless» was released with Jet starring, and at the end of 2007 Jet Li returned to his homeland to act in the Chinese-Hong Kong film «The Warlords». The film's main focus wasn't martial arts, but rather its dramatic elements - for this role Jet Li won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor.
Jet won Best Actor Hong Kong Film Award
Jet won Best Actor Hong Kong Film Award
In 2008, Jet Li starred for the first time alongside martial arts veteran Jackie Chan in Rob Minkoff's adventure action film «The Forbidden Kingdom». Soon after, Jet played the main villain in the fantasy action film «The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor» alongside Maria Bello and Brendan Fraser. After a one-year break, Jet Li returned to filmmaking with the action film «The Expendables», joining stars like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke. In 2012-2014 Jet reprised his role in sequels «The Expendables 2» and «The Expendables 3».

Initially, Jet was set to star alongside Vin Diesel in the adventure action film «XXX: Return of Xander» (2017), but he was replaced by Donnie Yen.

In November 2017, the short film «Gong Shou Dao» was released. In the film, the main hero fought with different martial arts masters. Besides Jet Li, the film starred Jack Ma, Wu Jing (who appeared in Shaolin), and Jacky Heung (star of action films Fearless and The Warlords).

Personal life of Jet Li

In 1987, Jet married Huang Qiuyan, a member of the Beijing Wushu Team. They had two daughters together - Si and Taimi. In 1990 the couple separated.
Jet Li with Huang Qiuyan
Jet Li with Huang Qiuyan
Since 1999, the actor has been married to Nina Li Chi, a Shanghai-born actress from Hong Kong. Nina has given birth to two of Jet's daughters - Jane (born 2000) and Jada (born 2003).
Jet Li and Nina Li Chi
Jet Li and Nina Li Chi
In 2004 Jet Li was in the Maldives during a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Although the media widely reported news of Jet's death, the actor only sustained a minor leg injury.

In 2009, Jet Li renounced his previously granted US citizenship. In July 2009, the actor became a citizen of Singapore. Jet chose this country for its high-quality education system, which he felt was necessary for his younger daughters.
Jet Li and his family
Jet Li and his family
In 2009, Jet launched his own fitness program called Wuji, which combined elements of wushu, yoga, and pilates. Soon after, Adidas launched a clothing line for this program bearing Jet's initials, JL.
Jet Li started his own fitness program, containing elements of wushu, yoga, and pilates.
Jet Li started his own fitness program, containing elements of wushu, yoga, and pilates.
Jet Li practices Tibetan Buddhism. In his free time, Jet plays badminton and ping-pong, rides a bicycle, reads and meditates.

Social activities

Since 2006, Jet has served as a philanthropic ambassador for the Red Cross Society of China. He donated 500,000 yuan ($62,500) to the foundation using proceeds from his film Fearless (2006). In spring 2007, Jet launched his own nonprofit foundation called The One Foundation, supporting international disaster relief and suicide prevention efforts.
Since 2006, Jet has served as a philanthropic ambassador
Since 2006, Jet has served as a philanthropic ambassador
In 2011, Jet partnered with Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group (which includes popular websites AliExpress and Taobao), to launch lifestyle company Taiji Zen with the mission of spreading "Health and Happiness for All."

Jet Li today

These days, the actor has scaled back his film work but took on the role of the emperor in Disney's live-action "Mulan" remake, which premiered in 2020.

In late 2019, following a lengthy illness, Jet Li posted a photo on Instagram where fans noted he looked noticeably younger and more upbeat. However, the actor hasn't revealed what caused this positive transformation.
  • Oh I liked very much how Jet Li played in Romeo Must Die, cool movie
    2021-05-16 09:39:59
  • Of course people started to take him in the movies because of his martial arts and it`s almost the only reason he was playing in movies but now I can call him an actor for sure.
    2021-05-02 11:39:55
  • I remember Li in The Shaolin Temple but there he was a little boy and they took him mostly because of his martial arts
    2021-04-21 09:20:43
  • Jet Li is a cool actor but it`s possible to mistake him with a Jackie Chan haha :) because he is fighting same good
    2021-04-11 10:29:11
  • The fact that he was playing in The Expendables I know but other works of him I can`t remember.
    2021-02-19 12:56:44
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