Jackie Chan Paris Paralympics torch bearer

Hollywood Star and Guinness World Record holder Jackie Chan is set to be the torch bearer at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Paris on Wednesday.

The 70-year-old actor is very popular in France and beyond. His combination of humor and martial arts is loved by everyone who understands the language.

Born in 1954 in British colonial Hong Kong, Chen Kang Sang began his film career as a child actor. In 1972, he acted as a stunt double in Bruce Lee’s film ‘Fist of Fury’.

His thrilling fights with humor in movies like ‘Drink Master’ and ‘Police Story’ made him a household name in Hong Kong and within Asia.

He also often suffered injuries due to his stunts, and scenes of mistakes at the end of his films were usually shown in blooper releases with the credits.

He was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2012 for ‘Most Stunts by a Living Actor’.

Chen’s career in Hollywood began with the 1996 film ‘Rumble in the Bronx’ and then in ‘Rush Hour’ opposite American comedian Chris Tucker.

The third installment of the Rush Hour films, filmed in France, featured a pivotal fight scene at the Eiffel Tower, in which Chan jumps around the iron beams of the iconic Parisian tower to escape his opponent.

‘I did all my own stunts, even the fight on top of the Eiffel Tower and the acrobatic scenes,’ he told reporters at the premiere in 2007.

“I can tell my grandchildren, this is your grandfather,” Chen said. This is me. This is not a double flying over the Eiffel Tower at 100 miles per hour.’

He is expected to take the ceremonial torch on Wednesday afternoon. This will not be his first time carrying the Olympic torch.

In 2008, he was among several Chinese figures to carry the Olympic torch before the Beijing Olympics, including Zhang Ziyi of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ fame.

People attend an iron horse exhibition in the courtyard of the Hotel de Ville in Paris on August 27, 2024. The horse was placed in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics (AFP)

Despite a late start to his international film career, Chen has been named among the world’s highest-paid actors several times over the past decade.

He also starred in big-budget action blockbusters like ‘Shanghai Nun’, ‘The Karate Kid’ and the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ series of animated films.

Chen was awarded an honorary Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He had said that ‘After 56 years in the film industry, after making more than 200 films, I have broken many bones – finally this is mine!’

Chen’s popularity in Hong Kong has waned somewhat due to his stance in favor of the Chinese government.

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His decision to join China’s top political advisory body in 2013 made headlines.

In 2021, there was a video of him saying that he wanted to become a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

He said, ‘I feel proud to be a Chinese person. But I am also very jealous that you are a party member. I think the Communist Party is great… I want to be a member of the party.

Chen owns a vast business empire that includes a clothing line, cinemas and restaurants.

According to Forbes, his wealth was estimated at $350 million in 2015.

Speaking to reporters at the premiere of Rush Hour 3, the then 53-year-old actor said that he sometimes forgets his age.

“You just keep going, I’ll do it until my body tells me to stop,” he said. I don’t think about retirement.’