Jet Li
Biography
Jet Li was born in Born April 26, 1963 by the name of Li Lian Jie, his screen name of Jet came from a nickname he received early on. He the youngest of five kids and his father died shortly after his birth at the age of two and by the time he was eight years old he was enrolled in Beijing Wushu academy. He became a renowned competitor in wushu tournaments and gained fame and recognition at an early age. His popularity eventually led to a successful film career and he starred in his first film Shaolin Temple in 1982. In 1986 he starred in his directorial debut Born to Defense (1986) which was a commercial failure, but still respected for its realistic use of martial arts. Li then starred in over twenty popular chinese movies before he started a successful acting career in America beginning with his role in Lethal Weapon 4 (1994). Since then he has starred in many more American and Chinese films alike as well as serving as producer on many films. In 1987 he married Qiuyan Huang and had two children. They divorced in 1990 and nine years later he married his present wife Nina Li Chi and had two more children.
Jet Li has proven to be a martial arts star who has relied more on his serious acting ability rather than his comedic ability. He is a practicing Buddhist and lives his life by the religion. His films have shown a great range in character types and many different forms of martial arts. He claims that his personal beliefs on life can be found in three specific films: “"Everything I want to say is in those three movies, the message of Hero is that your personal suffering is not as important as the suffering of your country. The point of Danny the Dog is that violence is not a solution. Fearless is actually about personal growth — about a guy who decides that in the end his greatest enemy is himself" (AsianBite).
Although Jet Li has starred in martial arts roles since 2006 he claimed in interviews at the time that he was done with martial arts: “I stepped into the martial arts movie market when I was only 16. I think I have proved my ability in this field and it won't make sense for me to continue for another five or 10 years. Fearless (2006) is a conclusion to my life as a martial arts star” (imdb). Whether or not he is planning on continuing doing more roles with martial arts is unknown. Only time will tell if he will take his career into more of a serious direction.
Quotes
“I think today’s world has become smaller, and family movies work for Asian audiences and American audiences, because when you play in the other kind of movie, maybe some movies only work for Western [audiences], they don’t really work in Asia” (aintitcool.com).
“So some movies I do are very commercial, you know, just be the actor, just do the job, but some movies I really want to tell the story there, tell my personal beliefs, like FEARLESS, that kind of film” (imdb).
“I have met Jackie Chan about 6 times up 'til now . . . and even though many people think we are natural enemies, I personally think he is a cool bloke and would honestly love to work with him in a film one time - that would a well brilliant movie!” (imdb).
“We are a global family. The religion is different, the languages are different but we are human beings and we need to help each other” (imdb).
Filmography
ACTOR
???? The Expendables 3 (announced) Yin Yang (rumored)
2012 The Expendables 2 Yin Yang
2011 Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Zhao Huai'an
2011 The Sorcerer and the White Snake Abott Fahai
2010 The Expendables Yin Yang
2010 Ocean Heaven Wang Xingchang
2009 The Founding of a Republic Chen Shaokuan
2008 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Emperor
2008 The Forbidden Kingdom The Monkey King / The Silent Monk
2007 The Warlords General Pang Qingyun (as Lianjie Li)
2007 War Rogue
2006 Fearless Huo Yuanjia
2005 Unleashed Danny
2003 Rise to Honor (Video Game) Kit Yun (voice)
2003 Cradle 2 the Grave Su
2002 Hero Nameless
2001 The One Gabe Law / Gabriel Yulaw / Lawless
2001 Kiss of the Dragon Liu Jian
2000 Romeo Must Die Han Sing
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Wah Sing Ku
1998 Contract Killer Fu
1997 Once Upon a Time in China and America Wong Fei-Hung
1996 Black Mask Tsui Chik / Black Mask
1996 Dr. Wai in the Scriptures with No Words Chow Si-Kit
1995 Meltdown Kit Li
1995 The Enforcer Kung Wei
1994 Fist of Legend Chen Zhen
1994 The Defender Allan Hui Ching-yeung / John Chang
1994 Legend of the Red Dragon Hung Hei-Kwun
1993 The Evil Cult Chang Mo Kei (as Lin-kit Lee)
1993 Tai-Chi Master Junbao
1993 The Legend II Fong Sai Yuk
1993 Last Hero in China Wong Fei-hung (as Lin-kit Lee)
1993 The Legend Fong Sai-Yuk
1993 Once Upon a Time in China III Wong Fei-hung
1992 The Master Jet
1992 Once Upon a Time in China II Wong Fei-Hung
1992 The Legend of the Swordsman Ling Wu Chung
1991 Once Upon a Time in China Wong Fei-hung
1989 Dragon Fight Jimmy Lee (as Jet Lee)
1988 Abbot Hai Teng of Shaolin
1986 Shaolin Temple 3: Martial Arts of Shaolin Zhi Ming
1986 Born to Defense Jet
1984 Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin San Lung
1982 The Shaolin Temple Chieh Yuan
PRODUCER Fearless (producer)
2005 Unleashed (producer)
2001 Invincible (TV movie) (executive producer)
2001 Kiss of the Dragon (associate producer)
1994 Fist of Legend (executive producer, producer)
1994 The Defender (producer - as Li Yang Chung)
1994 Legend of the Red Dragon (producer)
1993 The Evil Cult (producer)
1993 Tai-Chi Master (producer)
1993 The Legend II (executive producer - as Li Yang Chung)
1993 Last Hero in China (producer)
1993 The Legend (producer - as Li Yang-Chung)
Awards and Honors
1995 Golden Horse Film Festival, Best Actor
2007 HKFCS Award, Best Actor
2008 Hong Kong Film Award, Best Actor
2008 Shanghai Film Critics Award, Best Actor
Jet Li Videoclips
Jet vs. Jackie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcPJ5qSnrEI
Jet in Lethal Weapon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adnXzutxWcQ
Jet vs. Donnie Yen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTsKEgUJyUQ
References
Li, Jet. "Let's start at the beginning". Essays. JetLi.com. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
^ Li, Jet. "Life Essay: Part 2". Essays. JetLi.com. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
^ Li, Jet. "Life Essay: Part 9". Essays. JetLi.com. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
www.imdb.com
www.atintitcool.com
www.youtube.com