We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Jackie Chan, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the actor and martial artist that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: He Invented the Genre of Comedic Kung Fu. Though many kung fu movies today have a comedic element in them, Chan was the very first to create this genre. Chan made a breakthrough with this genre in Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow. The film was the first where Chan was totally in control of his stunts.
Number Seven: He Does All of His Own Stunts. In case you were wondering, now the debate can be settled – Chan truly does do all of his own stunts. He has incurred many, many injuries doing these stunts, however, including partial paralysis due to an injured tailbone.
Number Six: He Has Been Blackmailed. Chan was blackmailed by the Triads while filming Fearless Hyena Part II. He reportedly broke the contract, and director Lo Wei went to extreme measures to make sure he followed the rules. Chan was very unhappy with the movie when it wrapped.
Number Five: He Almost Died From a Simple Stunt. Chan was doing a simple jump onto a tree when he fell beyond the tree and hit a rocky piece of ground. The ground caused a piece of Chan’s skull to crack and pierce his brain, and he began bleeding from his ears. He had a quick recovery, but there is still a hole in his head from the incident.
Number Four: He Is Incredibly Dedicated. Chan holds the unofficial record for the most takes ever to get a single shot. He needed more than 2,900 takes to get a shot in Dragon Lord. The scene involved a game of Jianzi, or shuttlecock soccer.
Number Three: He Is Not a Fan of Rush Hour. Chan has said that he does not appreciate the action scenes in the movie and does not really understand American humor. He lacks an understanding of how American audiences will respond to what he does.
Number Two: His Blooper Reels Are Educational. Though they can be funny, Chan likes to use his blooper reels as a caveat for kids who want to try his stunts. He wants them to be a warning that other people should take great care before trying any of the stunts he performs.
Number One: He Is Only Scared by Two Things. The only things that scare Chan are needles and public speaking. Let’s hope he doesn’t have to give a talk at a hospital anytime soon!