Jackie Chan turned 70 on April 7th. Among the various tributes he received, one of the most special was certainly that of Will Smith. The stars met, namely, during the filming of “The Karate Kid”, where Chan starred alongside Jaden Smith, Will’s son.
Therefore, in a post on his social networks, Will thanked Jackie for her friendship and influence on Jaden’s life. “Happy 70th birthday, my friend Jackie Chan! In addition to making some of my favorite movies of all time and creating some of the craziest moments ever captured on film, I’m so grateful for helping create Jaden. Our time with you in Beijing during The Karate Kid has left an everlasting impact on our entire family. We wish you the deepest love on your next trip around the Sun,” he said.
A day of Chan
Born in Hong Kong in 1954, Chan began his career as a stuntman and child actor in the local film industry. His international acclaim initially came with films such as “Rush Hour” (1998), “Police Story” (1985) and “Project A” (1983).
Karate Kid
The film, directed by Harald Zwart and produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, was a box office success, grossing more than $50 million in just three days in the United States. The story revolves around Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), a teenager who moves to Beijing with his mother and becomes involved in a rivalry with local bullies. Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a janitor who is secretly a kung fu master, mentors him and helps him overcome his challenges.
The relationship between Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith during filming was fundamental to the young actor’s development. Jackie became a mentor to Jaden, both on and off screen. Will Smith, in his birthday post for Jackie Chan, recognizes the importance of this friendship and how their time together in Beijing impacted their entire family.
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