Jet
Li (Traditional Simplified pinyin Li Lian Jie Wade-Giles
Li Lien-chieh Cantonese Lei Lin Git born April 26, 1963)
is a Chinese martial artist and filmactor. Jet Li (as
he would later be known) was born in either Hebei or
Beijing, China, and orphaned at age 2. He was sent to
the Wushu academy at age 8.
Career
Jet Li began his martial arts career as a member of
the Beijing Wu Shu team, an athletic group organized
to perform martial arts during the All China Games.
As a member of the team, he received martial arts
training and went on to win the Chinese Wushu national
championship five times. Once, as a child, when the
Chinese National Wushu Team went to perform for President
Richard Nixon in the United States, Jet Li was asked
by Nixon to be his personal bodyguard, to which Li
replied, "I'm going to defend my one billion
Chinese countrymen," which earned him much respect
in his homeland. (disputed — see talk page)
The fame gained by his winnings led to a career as
a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China
and then continuing into Hong Kong. After his success
in Hong Kong, Jet Li established a presence in American
films, beginning with his portrayal of a villain in
Lethal Weapon 4. His first lead role in a Hollywood
movie was in Romeo Must Die.
Some of his more famous Chinese
films include:
the Shaolin Temple series (1, 2 and
3);
the Once Upon a Time in China series (Chinese title:
Wong Fei Hung), about the semi-legendary Chinese folk
hero;
Fist of Legend, which, contrary to popular belief,
was not a remake of Bruce Lee's The Big Boss (a.k.a.
Fists of Fury), but rather of Bruce Lee's Chinese
Connection, (Fist of Fury in Chinese); and
the Fong Sai-Yuk films, which are about another Chinese
folk hero. As one might expect from a martial artist
of his caliber, he performs most of his own stunts.
Jet Li starred in the 1995 movie, Shu dan long wei,
known in English as "Courage of a Mouse and Power
of a Dragon". The movie, known in the US as either
High Risk or Meltdown, portrays Jet Li as a cop who
becomes disillusioned after his son is murdered by
crimelords. Along the way, he pairs up with wacky
sell-out actor, Frankie (played by Jacky Cheung),
and proceeds to engage in a series of extremely violent
battles in a high-rise building.
In July 2001, Jet Li and Jackie Chan
agreed to produce and star in an action movie which
was to be released in 2002 or 2003, but there has
since been no news of their collaboration. In 2004,
the film Hero was released in the US market. This
film was both a critical and commercial success.
Li took a big risk with the 2005 action
drama, Unleashed (a.k.a. Danny the Dog) where he portrays
an adult with the mentality of a child who has been
raised like an animal. A sombre film with more depth
than had been previously seen in Li's films, it co-starred
dramatic actors, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman.
Opinions
On Sport Fighting
While Li had been highly successful
in non-combat Wu Shu tournaments, he has never expressed
a personal interest in competing in any sport fighting
or competitive martial arts such as kickboxing or
MMA.
In the Special Features section of the "Cradle
2 the Grave" DVD, Li claimed that he would be
defeated in real life by professional MMA fighters
such as Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, and Randy Couture,
his co-stars in the film.
Personal Life
Jet Li has been married to Nina Li Chi (born Li Zhi),
a Shanghai-born, Hong Kong-based actress since 1999,
and they have two daughters. He was previously married
to Qiu-yan Huang from 1987 until they divorced in
1990, and by whom he also has two daughters.
Jet Li was in the Maldives when the
tsunami hit during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
He suffered a minor foot injury, caused by a piece
of floating furniture, while he was guiding himself
and his daughter to safety.
Filmography
Danny the Dog (AKA: Unleashed) (2005)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
Hero (2002)
The One (2001)
Kiss of the Dragon (2001)
Romeo Must Die (2000)
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
Hitman (1997)
Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)
Black Mask (1996)
Dr. Wai and the Scripture with No Words (1996)
High Risk (1995)
My Father is a Hero (1995)
Bodyguard from Beijing (1994)
Fist of Legend (1994)
The New Legend of Shaolin (1994)
Fong Sai Yuk II (1993)
Fong Sai Yuk (1993)
The Kung Fu Cult Master (1993)
Last Hero in China (1993)
The Tai Chi Master (1993)
Once Upon a Time in China III (1993)
Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
Swordsman II (1991)
The Master (1989)
Dragon Fight (1988)
Born to Defense (1986)
Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986)
Kids from Shaolin (1983)
Shaolin Temple (1979)
source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
More Articles..
