Jackie Chan’s real name isn’t Chan, and his father was a spy?

Jackie Chan is one of the top martial artists, actors, and filmmakers known for his acrobatic fighting style, comedic timing, and daring stunts, which he often performs himself. Born as Chan Kong-sang on April 7, 1954, in Hong Kong, he has had a career spanning over six decades, making him one of the most influential figures in action cinema.

Now, these are the things that almost everyone knows, but did you know that Jackie Chan's father was a spy? According to his recent confession, Chan himself got to know about this fact in his 40s. And that is not it, his real name is not even Chan!

Jackie Chan recalls the moment

The legend spoke about this in an interview with People magazine, recalling the moment he got to know about his father, Charles, not being a simple citizen. In the video, the star pointed out his parents in a family photograph, saying, “That’s my father and my mum.

I cannot remember how old I was at the time.” Later, he looked back on the moment when his father revealed the secret to him when he was driving a car. He uttered, “My father was a very handsome guy, and my father was a spy. I got to know my father’s secret when I was 40-something... One day, I was driving my car, and my father suddenly said, ‘Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up... I have a secret to tell you... You are not Chan.

Your original name is Fang.” The actor revealed that he was ‘very shocked’ at the revelation and was unable to listen to his father Charles' explanation of his past further.

The family documentary

His mother, Lee-lee Chan, also had a secret past; she was an opium smuggler and gambler before moving to Hong Kong. Jackie later commissioned a documentary in 2003, 'Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family,' which explored his parents’ hidden lives.

The movie showed his mother’s gambling past and his father’s work as a government spy during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. The documentary says it all, including how they fled to Hong Kong to avoid any political turmoil.

It also shows Jackie Chan’s struggle in the China Drama Academy.

His Career

Jackie Chan got into Hollywood in 1995 with a role in Rumble in the Bronx. However, it was 1998’s buddy cop comedy ‘Rush Hour,’ opposite Chris Tucker, that established his status as a star.

He got into this career as a stuntman but later got into the movies. This might be the reason for him to be so comfortable doing his own stunts, even in a movie. He started as one of the Seven Little Fortunes at the China Drama Academy, where he trained in acrobatics, martial arts, and acting.

His breakthrough came with Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, followed by Drunken Master, which established his signature blend of martial arts and comedy. Beyond acting, Chan is a philanthropist, singer, and film producer, with a career spanning over decades. His influence on action cinema is unparalleled, inspiring generations of martial artists and filmmakers.