Jackie Chan recently shocked his fans with a brand new look on a Chinese social media site. Another photo of Chan began circulating on X and has garnered many fan and celebrity reactions. Most people are surprised at Chan’s age.
Jackie Chan, the revered martial artist and venerated star of the screen, recently appeared in a video on a Chinese social media platform, showing off a full head of gray hair as he approaches his 70th birthday. The video, which quickly spread across the internet, was from a report by Sichuan Observation on Weibo and was shot during a special event in Luzhou, Sichuan.
The caption alongside the video highlighted Chan’s appearance at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Sealing Ceremony on March 11th, with Chan humorously comparing his age to the ancient brewing techniques of Luzhou Laojiao, saying, “Luzhou Laojiao’s brewing technique has a history of 700 years, and I am 70 years old.”
Jackie Chan on the red carpet at the Closing Night Gala Red Carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 08, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Source: Getty Images
At the ceremony, Chan, who is a father-of-two, mentioned his strong connection with Luzhou and expressed his admiration for the event, which he was attending for the first time. He voiced a heartfelt desire to see Chinese kung fu prevail in every corner and the rich aroma of Luzhou Laojiao to be omnipresent.
As images of Chan’s transformed appearance surfaced, the internet reacted with a mix of shock and admiration. The Daily Loud’s shared photo of Chan’s new look garnered significant attention, prompting fans to voice their surprise and nostalgia. Comments ranged from stunned queries like “What happened to Jackie Chan?” and “Can’t believe he’s that old already” to expressions of disbelief such as “Yo I barely recognize him. A legend.” “He looks completely different” and “How?“
Fans reflected on their own disbelief with remarks like “Ahh, I couldn’t recognize him for a while” and “Unbelievable.” The collective sentiment echoed the reverence for the passage of time, with multiple fans remarking, “[What’s] happening to Jackie Chan?” and “Can’t believe that Jackie Chan is getting this old. Legend.“
Jackie Chan on the red carpet at the 2023 Beijing International Film Festival on April 21, 2023 in Beijing, China | Source: Getty Images
Tolulope Michael, a cyber-security instructor and career coach, didn’t hide his emotions when sharing the viral photo, reflecting on the inevitable nature of aging and the bittersweet reality of seeing a childhood hero grow old. He recounted how Chan’s films from the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s continue to bring joy and how the anticipation for “Rush Hour 4” keeps the excitement alive.
His tribute, heartfelt and resonant, read: “Seeing one of the greatest actors of all time get old is really heartbreaking for me, even though getting old is a part of life. Jackie Chan is part of those actors that made our childhood fun. He was my childhood favourite actor and I still watch his 80’s 90’s and early 2000’s movies to watch again and relive those memories.” Michael shared that he loved Chan as a child and still felt that way. He shared that although he couldn’t bear to see Chan aging, he knew it was something he couldn’t escape.
In October 2017, when addressing questions about himself on social media, Chan’s responses were imbued with his characteristic wit and humility. To the query “How did Jackie Chan die?” he quipped, “Jackie Chan never dies.” Addressing retirement rumors, he confidently stated, “No. The movie business is so fun.”
Jackie Chan at the ‘Ride On’ Guangzhou Road Show April 7, 2023 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China | Source: Getty Images
He revealed that if he retired from acting, he would pursue directing. When asked if he lived in Mexico, he clarified, “No, Beijing. But I have an office in Shanghai, Taiwan… actually, I’m living around the world.” To the suggestion of immortality, he humbly responded, “Actually, no. I’m not immortal. I’m just ordinary people. I just have the guts to try everything.” And in the timeless debate of who would win in a fight between him and Bruce Lee, Chan graciously conceded, “Bruce Lee win. Let him win.”
Chan’s reflections on life and work, captured in his book “Never Grow Up,” resonate with his recent appearance: “…I don’t want to retire either. Sometimes I wonder if I should just vanish suddenly one day, pack a bag and fly a plane to somewhere. That might be the way to do it. But I probably never will. I hope that, when the time is right, I’ll know when to stop working. I’ll take care of myself. Or I’ll keep plugging away and fighting until the very end.”
