Jackie Chan marked his 70th birthday on April 7 by telling people not to worry about his health after some photos of the acting icon looking old with grey hair circulated online recently and sparked concern among his fans. Chan wrote in an Instagram post that any photo of him looking much older than 70 is just him in character for a new movie.
“Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health,” Chan wrote in the caption. “I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry! It’s just a character appearance for my latest movie. The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old.”
“Over the years, I’ve always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character,” Chan continued. “I’ve been in the entertainment business for 62 years and I cherish every moment because I’m lucky I’m still filming today.”
Chan did not disclose what role required him to turn his hair grey. He most recently had a voice role as Splinter in last year’s animated hit “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” and he’s currently set to reprise his role of Mr. Han in the next “Karate Kid” movie. The movie, directed by Jonathan Entwistle, unites Chan with original “Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio. Sony Pictures will release the film in theaters on Dec. 13, 2024.
“Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday!’” Chan added in his Instagram birthday message. “Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second — l’m 70 years old already? After recovering from the shock, the second thing that would come to my mind is a saying that my big brother, Sammo Hung once said: ‘Being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.’ Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old.”
Chan added, “All I can say is: I love making movies and I love you all. A big thank you to everyone for all your birthday wishes. Hope everyone stays happy and healthy!”
Read Chan’s full message to fans in the post below.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
