Jordan Chan
A Hong Kong screen rebel turned reality TV dad, he evolved from gritty gangster roles to become a beloved national figure.
Born 1967 (age 59)·Hong Kong actor and singer·Birthday: July 8·Generation X
Biography
Jordan Chan emerged from the vibrant, chaotic energy of Hong Kong's 1990s cinema, carving out a space with his distinctive swagger and streetwise charisma. He wasn't just another pretty face; he brought a raw, electric presence to the 'Young and Dangerous' series, embodying the restless spirit of a generation. His career, however, refused to be pigeonholed. He shifted gears into television with a popular adaptation of a wuxia classic and later surprised audiences by revealing a softer, paternal side on a hit Chinese reality show. This move introduced him to a massive new mainland audience, transforming his public image from cinematic tough guy to a relatable family man, proving his enduring adaptability in the fickle world of Chinese entertainment.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jordan was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Jordan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread fame for his role as Chicken in the influential 'Young and Dangerous' film series.
- Starred as Wei Xiaobao in the 1998 TVB adaptation of 'The Duke of Mount Deer', a defining role for a generation.
- Reinvented his public image and gained a new fanbase through participation in the reality show 'Where Are We Going, Dad?'.
- Maintained a parallel career as a Cantopop singer, releasing multiple albums throughout his acting career.
Did You Know?
He is an avid practitioner of Wing Chun kung fu.
His wife, Cherrie Ying, is also a well-known Hong Kong actress.
He was a member of the Hong Kong singing group 'Wind Fire Sea' in the early 1990s.
“I don't play the cool guy; I just bring the energy from the street to the screen.”
