Jackie Chan Says His Mother ‘Never Watched' Any of His Movies All the Way Through. Here's Why (Exclusive)
Jackie Chan opens up to PEOPLE about his relationship with his late mother Lee-lee, who died in 2002 at the age of 86
Chan says that his mom "never" watched any of his action movies all the way through as she "didn't want to see" when her son, who famously does his own stunts, hit somebody or was hit during filming
Chan is reprising his role in the Karate Kid franchise with the new installment, Karate Kid: Legends, which is in theaters nowJackie Chan may be one of the biggest action stars in the world, but one surprising person who 'never' watched any of his movies all the way through was his mother, Lee-lee Chan.
'My Mom never watched the whole of one of my movies,' 71-year-old Chan exclusively tells PEOPLE while promoting his new movie, Karate Kid: Legends.
Explaining her resistance to watching his work in films such as the Police Story series and Rumble in the Bronx, the star says his mom, who died in 2002, could not bear to see her son flirt with danger while doing his own stunts.
'She started the movie, starts at the beginning, maybe the credits. [But] when she sees I'm doing a stunt, she turns around,' he says.
He continues of his mom, who was 86 when she died, 'When I hit somebody, she didn't want to see. Somebody hit me, she didn't want to see. She never watched a whole movie.'
Even though she never watched one of his famous movies in its entirety, Chan assures PEOPLE that Lee-lee, who was a housekeeper, was a big fan of his work. 'She had all my posters,' the actor recalls affectionately. 'She touched and kissed them before sleeping. That's my mom.'
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Making a rare appearance at the 2025 Critics' Choice Awards in February, the beloved actor received a rapturous reception and a standing ovation from the audience made up of journalists and his industry peers. After being introduced by three-time host Chelsea Handler, Jackie seemed overwhelmed by the reaction: 'Wow!" he said,
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Chan was on hand to present the award for best foreign film — and he used the opportunity to express his passion for film.
"Tonight, we're celebrating movies," the actor said. "They remind us that we may be from all different parts of the world, different walks of life, but we all laugh and cry and eat too much popcorn in the same way."
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After Emilia Pérez was named as the winner, director Jacques Audiard, also paid tribute to the Rush Hour star, saying, 'It's a magnificent day. I just received a prize from Jackie Chan. I feel like I've died and gone to heaven."
In November 2023, Ralph Macchio and Chan were announced to be reprising their roles in a new Karate Kid movie called Karate Kid: Legends. And Chan tells PEOPLE that filming the final instalment in the franchise meant 'more than a movie' to him.
'Not only can I use my [martial arts] technique, I can show the Chinese culture to the world," Chan explained.
The star, who has been married to former actress Joan Lin for 43 years, adds that he hopes the sequel will bring people together because 'the world needs a lot of love.'
Karate Kid: Legends is set to his theaters on May 30
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