Jackie Chan, the stunt master, takes a bow as he retires from action roles

Jackie Chan, popularly known for his real life stunts in action movies, has announced his retirement as an action star, saying he is too old for stunts and the world is “too violent”.

Speaking in Cannes, Chan said that his latest Hollywood movie, Chinese Zodiac, would be the last time he would be seen in a leading action role.

“This is my last action film,” he said. “I tell you, I’m not young any more. I’m really, really tired. And the world is too violent right now. It’s a dilemma – I like action but I don’t like violence.”

Chan has been talking of retirement for the past couple of years but said today that this time he really means it. Chinese Zodiac is Chan’s 100th film and features an international cast.
58 year-old Jackie Chan, born Chan Kong-sang made the first Police Story film in 1985, a US-influenced action comedy in which Chan performed a number of dangerous stunts. It was named the “Best Film” at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards

However, Jackie’s first huge blockbuster success came when he co-starred with Chris Tucker in the 1998 buddy cop action comedy Rush Hour, grossing US$130 million in the United States alone. This film made a star of Jackie Chan, in Hollywood. As a publicity stunt, Jackie also wrote his autobiography in collaboration with Jeff Yang entitled I Am Jackie Chan.

Jackie Chan in The Tuxedo

The 58-year-old actor said he felt “really, really tired” after decades of pushing his body to the limit. The dangerous nature of his stunts makes it difficult for Chan to get insurance, especially in the United States, where his stunt work is contractually limited. Chan holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Stunts By A Living Actor”, which emphasizes “no insurance company will underwrite Chan’s productions, in which he performs all his own stunts”.

In addition, he holds an unrecognised record for the most number of takes for a single shot in a film, having shot over 2900 retakes for a complex scene involving a Jianzi game in Dragon Lord.

Chan has been injured numerous times attempting stunts; many of them have been shown as outtakes or as bloopers during the closing credits of his films. He came closest to death filming Armour of God, when he fell from a tree and fractured his skull. Over the years, Chan has dislocated his pelvis and broken his fingers, toes, nose, both cheekbones, hips, sternum, neck, ankle and ribs on numerous occasions.

Jackie sure needs a break after decades of making dangerous stunts! It’s a surprise he is still fit after breaking everything in his body! He is a superstar of a rare kind