Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan is set to be given an honorary Oscar by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for his ‘exceptional contributions’ in cinema, according to a statement.Chan, born Chan Kong-sang, is arguably the most recognizable face of Hong Kong action cinema both at home and globally.The 62-year-old starred in dozens of martial arts films in Hong Kong and China, before making the transition to starring in English-language films in the 1990s.He will be presented with the Oscar at the Governors Awards ceremony in November, where editor Anne Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary maker Frederick Wiseman will also be honored.
Chan’s most beloved works helped create a style of filmmaking, mixing martial arts stunts and slapstick comedy, for which he is renowned today.Hits such as 1978’s The Drunken Master and the Police Story series launched his career at home, while police action comedies including Rumble in the Bronx and the Rush Hour trilogy made him an international star.The academy hailed Chan, Coates, Stalmaster and Wiseman as ‘true pioneers and legends in their crafts.’