Chinese actor Jackie Chan will receive the Oscars Lifetime Achievement Academy Award, as a recognition of his contribution to film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Sept. 1, Thursday. Chan never won an Oscar but has inspired many and amazed fans with his athleticism, awkward demeanor, charisma, as well as hard stunts and superb martial arts skills which he performs himself.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted on the night of Aug. 30 to present honorary awards to four recipients. Chan will be joined by documentary maker Frederick Wiseman, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and British film editor Anne V. Coates for the prestigious award.
All four will get an honorary Oscar statuette at the Academy's 8th Annual Governors Awards on Nov. 12 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, Hollywood & Highland Center, Los Angeles. The president of the academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs called them "true pioneers and legends in their crafts," according to the Oscars website.
Born in April 7, 1954, Chan has been trained early with martial arts, and his first major breakthrough in movies gave rise to comic kung fu. Lauded as the new Bruce Lee, he became the highest-paid Asian actor in the American film industry, taking home $1 million for Warner Bros.' "The Big Brawl," according to Time.
The legendary martial artist started his career in the entertainment space at age 8. He captured Hollywood with "Police Story," "Drunken Master," "The Karate Kid" and "Rush Hour" and "Kung Fu Panda." He has acted, directed and penned more than 30 martial arts films in Hong Kong, and has worked on more than 200 films to date.
Chan is the first Chinese actor to receive the Lifetime Achievement Academy Award. He thanked the Oscars for the recognition on his Facebook page.
The 62-year-old Hong Kong-born actor landed second in Forbes' list of 2016 world's highest-paid actors released in August, with an estimated $61 million earnings. "Fast and Furious" actor, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson tops the list with $64.5 million.
Watch below a trailer of the 2016 action-adventure "Skiptrace," starring Johnny Knoxville, Fan Bingbing and Chan.