By Phil Archbold
Whenever kung fu comes up in conversation, the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are inevitably discussed, but in his native China, Jet Li is held in equally high regard. Born Li Lian Jie on April 26, 1963, the Beijing-native began training aged 8 after his gym teacher put him in touch with legendary Wushu master Wu Bin. He wasn't a "prodigy" student, however; in fact, becoming such an accomplished fighter was a real struggle.
"It was my coach Wu Bin who helped me steer clear of all obstacles and encouraged me never to give up," Li said (via Kung Fu Magazine). "His admonitions and his patience in guiding me along will always remain in my heart of hearts." Li lost his dad when he was a toddler, and Wu Bin is said to have become a father figure over the years, guiding him to greatness along the way. He made the national Wushu team and won several championships, but Li decided to retire at 17 to concentrate on a career in the movies.
He kicked some serious ass in his 1982 debut feature Shaolin Temple, and went on to make a name for himself overseas (The Guardian called him "the Fred Astaire of kung fu"), but today Li is more of a lover than a fighter. His passion is now in philanthropy, though he's been in need of some help himself over the years. From near-death experiences to sham marriages, this is the untold truth of Jet Li.
He was a pre-teen street performer
In 1973, the legendary Bruce Lee passed away under mysterious circumstances, leaving China, America, and the rest of the movie-loving world in shock. The following year, Li (just 11 years old at the time) was doing a kung fu demonstration in Hong Kong when he was approached by a movie producer and asked how he felt about becoming the next Bruce Lee. Speaking to TalkAsia (via CNN) in 2003, Li (whose English wasn't quite as accomplished back then) recalled the encounter.
"When movie studio producer talk to me, 'Hi, little kid, when you grow up, you want to become action star?'" Li said. "I say, 'Okay, why not!' So since then, every year the producer came to me to look at me. Says, 'Okay, you are still a little boy, can't make movie. I want to wait [f
When movie studio producer talk to me, 'Hi, little kid, when you grow up, you want to become action star?'" Li said. "I say, 'Okay, why not!' So since then, every year the producer came to me to look at me. Says, 'Okay, you are still a little boy, can't make movie. I want to wait [for] you.'" He greatly admired Lee, but as a young boy he couldn't imagine that his name would ever be mentioned in the same breath.
"I remember I found him very talented, a very talented actor and martial artist," Li added. "But I don't know how to make movie, I don't know how to become this, I didn't think of it that deep. I was just 11." Li had turned 17 by the time the producer decided he was ready to make his debut feature film. He was cast in Shaolin Temple, the first in a series of movies that established him as a star in China.
President Nixon asked him to be his bodyguard
