Jackie Chan and MOCA co-founder Jack Tchen at the 2000 MOCA Legacy Awards Gala

Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, singer, and stuntman who has become an international pop culture phenomenon. Since the 1960s, Chan has appeared in over 150 films and is one of the most recognizable stars in the world. Born Chan Kong-sang in 1954, Chan earned the childhood nickname “Pao-pao,” meaning “cannonball,” for his energetic antics. He began appearing in films at age 5, and by age 17 he was working as a stuntman on Bruce Lee’s “Fist of Fury” and “Enter the Dragon.” Chan has stated that he created his onscreen persona, including his personality and martial arts style, to contrast Lee’s. Chan rose to stardom in the action-comedy genre during the 1980s in Hong Kong and across Asia. His rise continued to spread globally in the 1990s, culminating with the release of Rush Hour (1998), his first blockbuster success, which solidified his status as a Hollywood superstar. In 2004, Chan founded his own film production company, JCE Movies Limited, in order to have more control over his roles and the filmmaking process. Throughout his career, Chan has experimented with dramatic and villainous roles in addition to his classic action comedy roles. Chan’s contributions to world cinema have been recognized in numerous ways, from plaques on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars to multiple references in pop culture. MOCA honored Jackie Chan at its annual Legacy Awards Gala in 2000.