Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are likely the first names that come to mind when you think about legendary martial artists. They are two of the most well-known actors in kung fu films.
Lee made his debut in 1971 with The Big Boss, which exploded. He rose to fame all around the world as a result of the film.
Bruce Lee significantly influenced the kung fu subgenre and altered the methods that producers, directors, and studios utilized to create martial arts movies. He advised the producers that to cast individuals who could deliver a blockbuster performance, they needed to be highly skilled martial artists.
And because of Lee’s adjustments, individuals like Chan were given the chance. Chan was initially working as a stunt double and having financial difficulties, but as the Kung Fu craze swept the movie business, he advanced quickly.
All thanks to Lee, he ruled the genre for the following three decades and rose to fame as an actor. With “Fist of Fury,” Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee solidified their friendship.
Lee and Chan had the chance to collaborate before Lee’s sad passing in 1973, even though they never shared a screen.
During the production of Lee’s second film, Fist of Fury, the two met. Chan’s career had fallen off as a stunt coordinator at the time.
He continued to earn a living by performing stunts, and in Fist of Fury, he served as Lee’s stunt double.
The actor spoke candidly about working with Lee in a 1997 interview with Post journalist Richard James Havis.
He acknowledged how much the late martial arts legend affected him. He acknowledged Lee as the absolute master of martial arts and was in awe of both his abilities and mannerisms.
Additionally praising his icon, the Rush Hour actor said that he was kind to everyone.
Lee was more accepting than we were because he was born in the US. Everyone liked him, he was extremely kind to us and the lower classes, and he didn’t give a lot of thought to the powerful people, Chan added.
As much as he could, Bruce Lee assisted Jackie Chan. Additionally, Lee was considerate to everyone in the area and made sure Chan made the most money possible while serving as his double.
He admitted in the interview that the deceased actor would ask the stunt coordinator to give him extra time to work on set.
Lee would also declare a stunt unsafe while doing it merely to increase Chan’s compensation.
Bruce Lee brought me more cash. In one day, I earned USD 200. For me, it was double compensation. He told the stunt coordinator it was a dangerous stunt, but it wasn’t, so he got me even more money. He was merely attempting to increase my compensation, which made me happy, claimed Chan.
The Rush Hour actor played around with him on-site because they were so close while working together.
In a well-known tale, Chan related, he feigned to be more hurt than he was when Lee struck him with a stick just for Lee’s attention.
Lee had forgotten Chan’s name before this encounter, therefore Lee chose Chan for additional stunt work in Enter the Dragon.
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