Bio
Considered to be the most popular movie star of his generation in China, Jet Li has made hits in Hollywood at the turn of the century with movies like Romeo Must Die and Lethal Weapon 4. Comparable to the talents and fame reached by fellow Asian actors Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, Li has slowly captured the attention of American audiences and action film fanatics worldwide.
Jet Li, or Li Lian Jie, was born April 26, 1963, in Heibei, Beijing, China. Left to the care of his mother after the early passing of his father, Li grew up with a type of protective and strict parenting which made him very shy and fearful. By the time he was eight, his mother sent him to Beijing's Amateur Sports School for formal training in Wushu, the Chinese national sport. This helped him gain confidence as he became the most talented kid in This is where he got the name "Jet", attributed to the speed with which he performed his moves.
Jet eventually became a national champion and won several titles in varoius competitions throughout the '70s. He became the country's representative to martial arts events across the globe. After his stint in the sports arena, Li made his feature film debut in Shaolin Temple which, along with its sequels, became a box-office hit. This led to several more films in China and Hong Kong and made him the most in-demand star in China.
He soon ventured into making movies in the US, working with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bridget Fonda, Mel Gibson, and Morgan Freeman. Whether Jet Li is the lead protagonist or the silent-but-deadly villain, his stature as a bankable action star has been solidified with the string of Hollywood hits he has done.
Jet Li, or Li Lian Jie, was born April 26, 1963, in Heibei, Beijing, China. Left to the care of his mother after the early passing of his father, Li grew up with a type of protective and strict parenting which made him very shy and fearful. By the time he was eight, his mother sent him to Beijing's Amateur Sports School for formal training in Wushu, the Chinese national sport. This helped him gain confidence as he became the most talented kid in This is where he got the name "Jet", attributed to the speed with which he performed his moves.
Jet eventually became a national champion and won several titles in varoius competitions throughout the '70s. He became the country's representative to martial arts events across the globe. After his stint in the sports arena, Li made his feature film debut in Shaolin Temple which, along with its sequels, became a box-office hit. This led to several more films in China and Hong Kong and made him the most in-demand star in China.
He soon ventured into making movies in the US, working with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bridget Fonda, Mel Gibson, and Morgan Freeman. Whether Jet Li is the lead protagonist or the silent-but-deadly villain, his stature as a bankable action star has been solidified with the string of Hollywood hits he has done.
