Jet Li
He channeled the grace and power of Wushu into global stardom, becoming the dignified face of Chinese martial arts cinema.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Chinese-born martial artist and actor·Birthday: April 26·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jet Li's story begins not on a film set, but in the disciplined world of competitive Wushu. A national champion in China by his teens, his physical poetry was so evident he was cast in the groundbreaking 'Shaolin Temple,' which ignited a kung fu film revival. Li brought something new to the screen: a breathtaking speed and precision born of real championship training, coupled with a serene, almost solemn screen presence. He became a megastar across Asia before crossing the Pacific, where he introduced Western audiences to a different kind of action hero in films like 'Lethal Weapon 4' and 'Hero.' Unlike many of his peers, his characters often carried a philosophical weight, reflecting his personal engagement with Buddhism. His career is a bridge between traditional Chinese martial arts and global blockbuster cinema, executed with an unmatched athletic elegance.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jet was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jet Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Jet's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the national championship for All-Around Wushu champion in China for five consecutive years in his youth.
- Starred in 'Shaolin Temple' (1982), a film credited with reviving mainstream interest in kung fu cinema.
- Founded his own production company, Zheng Film Company, to have greater creative control over his projects.
- Played the lead in Zhang Yimou's critically acclaimed wuxia film 'Hero,' which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Did You Know?
He was personally invited to demonstrate Wushu for President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1974.
He is a devout Tibetan Buddhist and has studied with various teachers.
He turned down a role in 'The Matrix' to spend time with his family.
He holds citizenship in Singapore.
“The biggest enemy in your life is yourself.”
