Jackie Chan is recognized for his slapstick acrobatic fighting style, innovative stunts which he is known to perform on his own, and comic timing. The actor is one of the most influential action stars who’s had a global presence in both Eastern and Western industries. Without a doubt, the influence the actor has had over the years on pop culture is very hard to match and he is known to be the most recognized star in the world.
The actor who has appeared in near about 150 movies in his career has a reputation for performing his stunts with a lot of preparation but injuries are inevitable. Jackie Chan has managed to not only survive but also thrive after taking tons of knocks, which could probably knock down an average person easily. Jackie Chan’s injuries have outdone Sylvester Stallone’s injuries; who is also regarded as one of the actors who likes to perform his stunts.
Jackie Chan’s competition, Sylvester Stallone reveals he never fully recovered from Expendables’ injuries
In his Netflix documentary Sly, actor Sylvester Stallone who is also known to perform his stunts in his movies recalled the time when he was filming The Expendables and had dislocated his shoulders and fractured his neck. He was filming a scene opposite professional wrestling star ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and said via BI,
“Truthfully, I never recovered. It did such a number on my body, I’ve never been the same. Never.”
In an episode of The Family Stallone, the actor once again dwelled upon his injury from The Expendables, via Variety
“I was directing Expendables and like an idiot, I’m doing take 10, take whatever, and I remember one slam and I could actually feel one bang. Steve knew. I never recovered. After that film, it was never physically the same. So I warn people, don’t do your own stunts.”
Stallone revealed that he ended up getting a hairline fracture in his neck and he didn’t tell it to anyone at the time. The actor underwent a very serious operation and now has a metal plate in his neck.
Jackie Chan’s commitment to performing his stunts and enduring the pain of injuries
Jackie Chan has spent almost his entire career performing his stunts, which means that it is pretty obvious that he must have faced several injuries. The injuries however never held the actor back from performing his stunts in the movies. Let’s take a look at the injuries Jackie Chan has endured over the years and survived;
1. Eye Injury in Drunken Master
The actor appeared in 1978’s Drunken Master as Wong Fei-hung; a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and a revolutionary who lived towards the end of the Qing dynasty. Chan during a fight scene with actor Hwang Jang-Lee almost lost an eye after taking a high kick to the head.
According to reports by ScreenRant, Chan’s supraciliary ridge was smashed which injured his eye socket. The actor also suffered a lacerated eyebrow that has left him a permanent scar.
2. Neck Injury & Broken Nose in Project A
Jackie Chan appeared as Sergeant Dragon Ma Yue Lung in 1983’s Project A and during a clock tower fight sequence, he injured his neck. The actor decided to perform the stunt for the third time as he was not happy with the first two attempts but the third time when he was supposed to land on the ground, he did it directly on his neck, nearly breaking it.
According to WatchMojo, the movie was borrowed from the films of silent era stars Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. The actor had also endured some broken fingers and nose injuries as well while filming but nothing as serious stopped him.
3. Skull Fracture in Armour of God
Probably one of the scariest injuries that Jackie Chan faced in his career was a skull fracture in 1986’s Armour of God where he starred as Jackie a.k.a., Asian Hawk. Chan leaped from a Cliffside onto a tree and nailed the scene in one shot but he decided to go again which resulted in him falling straight onto his back and smashing his head on the rock.
As he landed, the fall drove a piece of bone up into his brain causing one of the scariest injuries of his life. Medics arrived at the spot in time and managed to help the actor who had started to bleed from his ear.
4. Crushed Legs in Crime Story
Jackie Chan is by known to perform his stunts until he is satisfied and one such incident took place in 1993’s Crime Story where he suffered a leg injury as they were caught in the middle of two cars and were crushed. The actor brushed off a pair of crushed legs because he knew he had a movie to finish.
5. Shoulder/Cheekbone Injury in Police Story 3: Super Cop
Jackie Chan’s stunt injuries are known as legendary in the world of action movies and his dedication to delivering the perfect shot for an action sequence is worth a salute. In 1992’s Police Story 3: Super Cop, the actor played RHKP Inspector Chan K-Kui and during the final act of the movie, he’s featured fighting thugs on top of a train.
During that scene, the pole struck him in the midsection and stunned him around sending him face-first into a pair of stationery helicopter blades. This resulted in his shoulder muscles being torn to shreds.
These near-death experience injuries did not bring Jackie Chan’s spirits down at any cost. He has always loved to perform his stunts to perfection and the audience has loved to see him on-screen.
