jet li biography
World-renowned martial arts master and international film star Jet Li burst into Hollywood in 1998 with his first English language film appearance in Lethal Weapon 4. After completing over 20 films in Hong Kong and China, Li took his first role as a villain starring opposite Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo and Chris Rock in the Richard Donner film.
Last year, Li garnered rave reviews for his performance in the Warner Bros. box office success Romeo Must Die. In this modern day Romeo and Juliet, Li plays 'Romeo' to singer Aaliyah Haughton's 'Juliet.' Produced by Joel Silver, the film blended hip-hop with kung fu and created a new type of action picture.
Li recently completed production on the 20th Century Fox film Kiss of the Dragon where he also serves as a producer. Li plays a foreigner who goes to Paris on assignment and becomes involved in a deadly conspiracy. The film co-stars Bridget Fonda and Tcheky Karyo. The film, directed by Chris Nahon, written by Luc Besson and Robert Kamen is slated for a July 2001 release.
Li is currently in production on the Revolution Studios' action-adventure film, The One directed by James Wong and co-starring Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham. In a stunning dual role, Li portrays 'Gabriel Yulaw,' a police officer confronted with a sinister form of himself. The malevolent alter ego escapes from the advanced parallel universe from which he originated and pursues 'Gabriel' with the intent to kill him. This leads to a battle between good and evil that changes 'Gabriel's' perception of reality and forces him to examine the evil hidden within himself. The One is scheduled for an August 2001 release.
On the horizon is the Warner Bros. film First Emperor, which Li will star and co-produce with Joel Silver. Based on an original idea by Li, the film will combine the suspense, action and thriller elements portrayed in films such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy. In addition, Li has teamed with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions to produce a martial arts television series entitled Invincible. Featuring the ancient martial art of Wushu, American audiences can expect spectacularly choreographed action sequences in the Hong Kong filmmaking style.
Born in Beijing, Li began studying the art of Wushu (the general Chinese term for martial arts) and was enrolled in the Beijing Amateur Sports School at the age of 8. After three years of extensive training, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. As part of a world tour in 1974, he had the honor of performing a two-man fight for President Nixon on the White House lawn. For the next four years, he remained the All-Around National Wushu Champion of China.
Shortly after retiring from the sport at the age of 17, he was offered many starring roles and subsequently began on his film career with director Chang Hsin Yen for Shaolin Temple. Upon its release, Li was propelled into instant movie stardom and the film was an enormous success that spawned two sequels. This led to Li completing 25 successful Asian films before coming to America.
Li currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
Originally posted by jayElias
jet li biographyWorld-renowned martial arts master and international film star Jet Li burst into Hollywood in 1998 with his first English language film appearance in Lethal Weapon 4. After completing over 20 films in Hong Kong and China, Li took his first role as a villain starring opposite Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo and Chris Rock in the Richard Donner film.
Last year, Li garnered rave reviews for his performance in the Warner Bros. box office success Romeo Must Die. In this modern day Romeo and Juliet, Li plays 'Romeo' to singer Aaliyah Haughton's 'Juliet.' Produced by Joel Silver, the film blended hip-hop with kung fu and created a new type of action picture.
Li recently completed production on the 20th Century Fox film Kiss of the Dragon where he also serves as a producer. Li plays a foreigner who goes to Paris on assignment and becomes involved in a deadly conspiracy. The film co-stars Bridget Fonda and Tcheky Karyo. The film, directed by Chris Nahon, written by Luc Besson and Robert Kamen is slated for a July 2001 release.
Li is currently in production on the Revolution Studios' action-adventure film, The One directed by James Wong and co-starring Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham. In a stunning dual role, Li portrays 'Gabriel Yulaw,' a police officer confronted with a sinister form of himself. The malevolent alter ego escapes from the advanced parallel universe from which he originated and pursues 'Gabriel' with the intent to kill him. This leads to a battle between good and evil that changes 'Gabriel's' perception of reality and forces him to examine the evil hidden within himself. The One is scheduled for an August 2001 release.
On the horizon is the Warner Bros. film First Emperor, which Li will star and co-produce with Joel Silver. Based on an original idea by Li, the film will combine the suspense, action and thriller elements portrayed in films such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy. In addition, Li has teamed with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions to produce a martial arts television series entitled Invincible. Featuring the ancient martial art of Wushu, American audiences can expect spectacularly choreographed action sequences in the Hong Kong filmmaking style.
Born in Beijing, Li began studying the art of Wushu (the general Chinese term for martial arts) and was enrolled in the Beijing Amateur Sports School at the age of 8. After three years of extensive training, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. As part of a world tour in 1974, he had the honor of performing a two-man fight for President Nixon on the White House lawn. For the next four years, he remained the All-Around National Wushu Champion of China.
Shortly after retiring from the sport at the age of 17, he was offered many starring roles and subsequently began on his film career with director Chang Hsin Yen for Shaolin Temple. Upon its release, Li was propelled into instant movie stardom and the film was an enormous success that spawned two sequels. This led to Li completing 25 successful Asian films before coming to America.
Li currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
Nice biography.
My Father is a Hero: Jet Li and kung-fu kid Xie Mao are the best in that movie. It's great to see them both together since New Legend of Shaolin. Where else can you see Jet Li taking on Rongguang Yu (Iron Monkey), Collin Chou (Seraph from the Matrix movies) and Ken Lo (villian in Drunken Master 2) at the SAME TIME.