Li Lianjie

Li Lianjie, better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a well-known Chinese actor. Li Lianjie has gained global renown for his superb martial arts talents and depictions of noble, humble heroes. He was formerly considered the heir apparent to the original master Bruce Lee. When Li Lianjie was eight years old, he enrolled in a summer sports program at Beijing Shichahai Sports School and was randomly assigned to a wushu (martial arts) class. He then spent half of each day training and half of each day in school before starting full-time training. He toured the United States in 1974 with other young martial artists, meeting President Richard Nixon at the White House. Li Lianjie won his first national wushu championship the same year. After earning five gold for the Beijing Wushu Team at the 4th National Games of China in 1979, Li Lianjie retired from the sport owing to a knee injury. His sporting success propelled him into a career as a martial arts film star.

In 1980, Li Lianjie played Jue Yuan, a young man who studies martial arts from the monks at the historic Shaolin Temple, in Hong Kong filmmaker Zhang Xinyan's film Shaolin Temple ( Shàoln S) (the legendary birthplace of Chinese martial arts). In the Chinese-speaking world, the film was a major hit (with two sequels) and is credited with reigniting interest in Chinese martial arts. The local distributors decided Li Lianjie's name was too difficult to say when the film was released in the Philippines in 1982, so they gave him the stage name Jet Li. He followed up his triumph with appearances in a number of films that were all box office hits in the 1980s. Then, in filmmaker Tsui Hark's 1991 epic drama Once Upon a Time in China (Huáng Fihóng zh Zhuàng Zh Lng Yn), Li Lianjie played the historical martial arts expert Wong Fei-hung, who fought against injustice and foreign intrusion at the end of the Qing era. He reprised the part in three sequels, making it one of the greatest roles in Chinese cinema history. Li Lianjie was the most sought-after martial arts actor in China throughout the 1990s. When Hollywood called, the Chinese actor flew to Los Angeles and appeared in films such as Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), Romeo Must Die (2000), and The One (2001).

Following then, his career was split between China and Hollywood. While continuing to star in major Chinese blockbusters such as Hero (Yngxióng) (2002), Fearless (Hu Yuánji) (2006), The Warlords (Tóu Mng Zhuàng) (2007), and Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Lóng Mén Fi Ji) (2011), he also appeared in Hollywood films such as Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Unleashed (2005), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), (2020). Li Lianjie is one of the most well-known Chinese actors in the world, thanks to both his acting and his active role in spreading Chinese martial arts and wushu culture around the globe.

• Born: Li Lianjie 26 April 1963 (age 59)Beijing, China
• Citizenship: Singapore (2009–present), United States (2003–2009), China (1963–2003)
• Occupation: Actor, martial artist, director, film producer, author
• Years active: 1982–present