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Jet Lee
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Birthplace: 26 April 1963
When Jet Lee was seven years old his
primary school teacher took him and his classmates to the Beijing Wu Shu
Academy. It was here that Jet's passion for Wu Shu began. On returning
from the trip had decided to start training at once, and discovered to
his delight that he had a natural born gift for this art. This enabled
him to rise through the ranks quickly and at just seven years old he took
five gold medals in the national Wu Shu championships. He continued his
discliplined training and by the Seventies he was the national coach.
In 1981 he was approached to star in the film Shaolin Temple, which was
shot on location in Hu Nam Province an used the real Shaolin Temple for
the best parts of the picture. This was the to be first time audiences
worldwide were given a chance to see behind China's red curtain. When
the film was released it broke box office records in Hong Kong, Korea
and Chinatowns all over the world, but sadly the picture was to be banned
in Taiwan.
From this one film Jet Lee became an overnight success and a legend in
his country. Peolple would queue up outside his house in the hope of getting
a glimpse of a rising star. And it wasn't long before Jet was back in
front of the cameras with the comedy sequel KIDS FROM SHAOLIN. Although
this was not as action packed as Shaolin Temple, the film still fared
well at the box office. MARTIAL ARTS OF SHAOLIN was the final part of
the trilogy, and unfortunately artistic difficulties had flared up between
Jet Lee and director Liu Chian Liang. But problems aside, the film achieved
very impressive box office figures with its superb sets and exciting action
sequences aplenty.
Jet decided to turn his hand to directing his own production, which he
was also to star in, BORN TO DEFEND was set during the Second World War,
and Jet played a young soldier who took on all comers inside the boxing
ring. The finished movie was very unpolished and was not regarded as one
of Jet's best vechiles. The box office figures were dissapointing and
even worse, Jet had sustained a bad back injury while permorming his own
stunts.
Dissapointment, Jet spent the next two years trying to get US citizenship,
claiming that he was not able to express himself as freely as he would
like, and that he had no power when it came to putting forward creative
ideas. His move West was to prove invaluable. After a slow start in Lo
Wei's DRAGON FIGHT, which co-starred the then unknown Chow Sing Chi, and
Tsui Hark's THE MASTER, which was to be shelved and later released as
WONG FEI HUNG '92, he was offered a lead role in Tsui Hark's ONCE UPON
A TIME IN CHINA. The movie was a huge success worldwide and critically
acclaimed, and Jet went on to star in two sequels.
Along with the success of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA the Hong Kong movie
scene witnessed a revival in traditional kung fu films, with Jet at the
top of the hot property list. Everyone wanted a piece of Jet Lee, and
it was Golden Princess who were lucky enough to sign him to star in Sing
Siu Tung's SWORDSMAN 2: INVINCIBLE DAWN. When the film opened in Taiwan
it took the highest lunar year box office ever. The picture was released
in 86 screens island wide.
A frantic panic broke amongst producers who were desperate to get Jet
Lee in their film, and some people were prepared to go to any lenghts
to get him. Later that year Jet's personal manager Jim Choy was gunned
down in Kowloon. The reason was not clear, but talk in film circles said
he had refused to jet star in some unscrupulous Triad production.
1993 was to be Jet's biggest year. He set up his production company Jing
Tung, and produced the fabulous FONG SAI YUK. Jet Lee had once again created
a tremendous hit, and himself declaired, "This is as close to me
as any character I've ever played". Later that year he went on to
make the comedy sequel, FONG SAI YUK 2. Although enjoyable it didn't quite
meet the standards set by its predecessor.
In between these two films jet made a surprise move when he went into
co-production with the Heung Brothers (one of whom played the indispensable
Mister Dragon in GOD OF GAMBLERS) of Win's Movie Company. The film was
called Last Hero in China and was directed by comedy king Wong Jing (Jackie
Chan's CITY HUNTER). It was a brilliant mixture of comedy and kung fu
and witnessed the wellcome return of Gordon Liu in full abbot regalia.
The fight scenes were directed by the veteran of the Jade screen, Yuen
Woo Ping (Jackie Chan's DRUNKEN MASTER and SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW).
For his next film Jet called back Yuen Woo Ping to direct TAI CHI MASTER,
where he played Chang San Fong, the real life founder of Tai Chi (Taiji).
He then went on to shoot one more film in 1993, which was released in
1994, KUNG FU CULT MASTER. This film returned to the Shaw Brothers for
inspiration and saw Jest cast alongside martial Arts supremo Samo Hung.
In recent years Jet Lee has found even more fame with several modern day
action movies, including a brilliant performance in FIST OF LEGEND, a
good version of the Bruce Lee classic Fist of Fury (aka Chinese Connection).
The film was so impressive that Quentin Tarantino bought the film rights
for American distribution. Jet has continued to work in the modern day
genre, with BODYGUARD FROM BEIJING, MY FATHER IS A HERO and HIGH RISK.
His latest movie to date is DR WAI IN 'THE SCRIPTURES WITH NO WORDS',
an Indiana Jones styled action adventure.
Eastern Heroes, 1996
Danny the Dog (2004)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
About Face (2002) (V) .... Himself
Jet Li Is 'The One' (2002) (V) .... Himself
Multiverses Create 'The One' (2002) (V) .... Himself
Ying xiong (2002) .... Wu Ming - No Name
... aka Hero (2003) (USA)
Modern Warriors (2002)
Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002) (V) (archive footage) .... Chen
Zhen/Taul (Fists of Legend & Black Mask)
One, The (2001/I) .... Gabe Law/Gabriel Yulaw/Lawless
Kiss of the Dragon (2001) .... Liu Jian
... aka Baiser mortel du dragon, Le (2001) (France)
... aka KOD: Kiss of the Dragon (2001) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Making of 'Romeo Must Die', The (2000) (V) .... Himself
Top Fighter (2000) (V)
Romeo Must Die (2000) .... Han Sing
Sat sau ji wong (1998) .... Fu
... aka Contract Killer, The (2002) (USA: video title)
... aka Hitman (1998)
... aka King of Assassins (1998) (literal English title)
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) .... Wah Sing Ku
... aka Lethal 4 (1998) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Wong Fei-hung chi saiwik hung si (1997) .... Wong Fei-Hong
... aka Huang Fei-hong zhi xi yu xiong shi (1997) (Hong Kong: Mandarin
title)
... aka Once Upon a Time in China VI (1997)
... aka Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)
Mo him wong (1996) .... Chow Si-Kit
... aka Adventure King (1996) (literal English title)
... aka Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words (1996)
... aka Dr. Wei in the Scripture with No Words (1996)
... aka Mao xian wang (1996) (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Scripture with No Words, The (1996)
Hak hap (1996) .... Michael/Simon/Tsui Chik/Black Mask
... aka Black Mask (1996) (International: English title)
Gei ba ba de xin (1995) .... Kung Wei
... aka Enforcer, The (1995) (UK)
... aka Jet Li's The Enforcer (2000) (USA: DVD title)
... aka Letter to Daddy (1995)
... aka My Father Is a Hero (1995)
Shu dan long wei (1995) .... Kit Li
... aka High Risk (1995)
... aka Jeung hok yau (1995) (China: Cantonese title)
... aka Meltdown (2001) (USA: video title (dubbed version))
Hong Xiguan zhi Shaolin wu zu (1994) .... Hung Hei-Kwun
... aka Hung Hei-Koon: Shaolin's Five Founders (1994)
... aka Legend of the Future Shaolin (1994)
... aka Legend of the Red Dragon (2002) (USA: video title)
... aka Legends of Shaolin (1994)
... aka New Legend of Shaolin, The (1994)
... aka Xin Shaolin Wuzu (1994)
Jing wu ying xiong (1994) .... Chen Zhen
... aka Fist of Legend (2001) (International: English title)
Shao Lin zhen gong fu (1994)
... aka Li Lian Je's Shaolin Kung-fu (1994)
... aka Shaolin Kung Fu (1994)
Zhong Nan Hai bao biao (1994) .... Allan Hui Ching-yeung/John Chang
... aka Bodyguard from Beijing, The (1994)
... aka Defender, The (2000) (USA: DVD title)
Fong Shi Yu II: Wan fu mo di (1993) .... Fong Sai Yuk
... aka Fong Sai-Yuk II (1993)
... aka Gong fu huang di (1993)
... aka Legend 2, The (1993) (USA: TV title (closing credits title))
... aka Legend II, The (1993) (USA)
... aka Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 2, The (1993)
Tai ji zhang san feng (1993) .... Junbao
... aka Tai-Chi (1993)
... aka Tai-Chi Master, The (1994) (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Twin Warriors (2000) (USA: DVD title)
Wong Fei-hung chi tit gai dau neung gung (1993) (as Jet Lee) .... Wong
Fei-hung
... aka Claws of Steel (1993) (UK)
... aka Deadly China Hero (1993) (USA)
... aka Huang Fei-Hong zhi tie ji dou wu gong (1993) (Hong Kong: Mandarin
title)
... aka Iron Rooster Vs. the Centipede (1993)
... aka Last Hero in China (1993)
... aka Tie ji dou wu gong (1993)
... aka Wong Fei Hong's Iron Rooster vs. centipide (1993) (Hong Kong:
informal title English title)
Wong Fei-hung tsi sam: Siwong tsangba (1993) .... Wong Fei-hung
... aka Huang Fei-hong zhi san shi wang zheng ba (1993) (Hong Kong: Mandarin
title)
... aka Invincible Shaolin, The (1993) (USA)
... aka Once Upon a Time in China III (1993)
Yi tian tu long ji zhi mo jiao jiao zhu (1993) .... Chang Mo Kei
... aka Evil Cult, The (1993)
... aka Kung Fu Cult Master, The (1993)
... aka Kung Fu Master (1993)
... aka Lord of the Wu Tang (1993) (USA: video title)
Fong Sai-Yuk (1993) .... Fong Sai-Yuk
... aka Fong Shi Yu (1993) (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk, The (1993)
... aka Legend, The (1993) (USA)
Wong Fei-hung ji yi: Naam yi dong ji keung (1992) .... Huang Feihong
... aka Huang Fei-hong zhi er nan er dang zi qiang (1992) (Hong Kong:
Mandarin title)
... aka Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)
Wong Fei-hung (1991) .... Wong Fei-hung
... aka Huang Fei-hong (1991) (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
Xiao ao jiang hu zhi dong fang bu bai (1991) .... Ling Wu Chung
... aka Legend of the Swordsman, The (2002) (USA: new title)
... aka Swordman II (1991)
Long xing tian xia (1989) .... Jet
... aka Master, The (1989)
... aka Wong fei hung (1989)
Dong fang ju long (1988)
... aka Dragons of the Orient (1988)
Long zai tian ya (1988) .... Jimmy Lee
... aka Dragon Fight (1988)
... aka Dragon Kickboxer (1988)
Shao Lin Hai Deng da shi (1988)
... aka Abbot Hai Teng of Shaolin (1988)
This Is Kung Fu (1987) (V)
Nan bei Shao Lin (1986) .... Zhi Ming
... aka Arahan (1986)
... aka Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986)
... aka North and South Shaolin (1986)
... aka Shaolin Temple 3: Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986)
Zhong hua ying xiong (1986)
... aka Born to Defence (1986)
... aka Born to Defend (1986)
Shao Lin xiao zi (1983) .... San Lung
... aka Kids from Shaolin (1983)
... aka Kids of Shaolin (1983)
... aka Shaolin Boys (1983)
... aka Shaolin Kids (1983)
... aka Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin (1983)
Shao Lin tzu (1979) .... Chieh Yuan
... aka Shaolin Temple, The (1979) (UK: DVD title)
