He’s the Hong Kong-born movie star who spent time as a teenager growing up in Australia.
But Jackie Chan’s connection to the country runs deeper than initially thought, with the actor revealing his father was a spy in hiding at the US Embassy in Canberra.
The 63-year-old’s father Charles Chan originally fled China to Hong Kong to avoid capture by rival communists, News.com.au reported.
Surprise reveal: Jackie Chan makes the startling revelation that his father was a spy who spent years hiding in Canberra at the US Embassy
‘My father was a spy hiding’: Jackie’s father Charles Chan originally fled China to Hong Kong to avoid capture by rival communists
‘My father was a spy hiding in Hong Kong and hiding in Australia at the American embassy for so many years,’ Jackie said
‘My father was a spy hiding in Hong Kong and hiding in Australia at the American embassy for so many years,’ Jackie told the website.
The Rush Hour star also revealed he wouldn’t have become known as ‘Jackie’ if it wasn’t for his time in Australia.
He said he was initially referred to as ‘Steve’ when attending Dickson College in the Australian Capital Territory.
But he then began going by the name ‘Jack’, courtesy of a friend at the US Embassy.
‘A guy said “what’s your English name?” and I said “I don’t have one”. My friend was a driver for the embassy,’ Jackie said.
Jackie’s connection to Australia runs deeper than initially thought, with the actor revealing his father Charles (pictured) hid at the US Embassy in Canberra
‘His name was Jack so it was, “OK, call him Jack”.’
Jackie said he added the ‘ie’ to the end of his name to give it more ‘rhythm’ once he returned to Hong Kong to pursue an acting career.
While his parents Charles and Lee-Lee lived in Canberra, Jackie spent most of his younger years away from them in a Hong Kong boarding school, News.com.au reported.
It was there he learnt his now world-renowned martial arts and acrobatic skills.
Jackie’s latest work involves him voicing character Master Wu in the recently released The Lego Ninjago Movie.
‘His name was Jack’: The Rush Hour star also revealed he wouldn’t have become known as ‘Jackie’ if it wasn’t for his time in Australia