Don’t worry, he’s still kicking.
Jackie Chan got extremely candid about aging after turning 70 over the weekend.
“Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday,’ ” Chan wrote via Instagram under several throwback images on Sunday. “Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second – I’m 70 years old already?”
“After recovering from the shock, the second thing that would come to my mind is a saying that my big brother Sammo Hung once said: ‘Being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.’ Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old.”
Additionally, the martial artist and actor took the time to address his health.
“Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health,” he said. “I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry! It’s just a character appearance for my latest movie.”
According to the “Rush Hour” star, the character required him to have white hair and a matching beard, but he did not specify what role it was.
“Over the years, I’ve always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character,” the “Karate Kid” actor elaborated. “I’ve been in the entertainment business for 62 years and I cherish every moment because I’m lucky I’m still filming today.”
He went on to note that he loves “making movies.”
“And I love you all,” he penned. “A big thank you to everyone for all your birthday wishes. Hope everyone stays happy and healthy!”
Chan, who tends to mostly keep out of the public eye, recently lent his voice to play Master Splinter in last year’s animated reboot of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise, “Mutant Mayhem,” alongside Seth Rogen, Ice Cube and Post Malone.
In November 2023, it was also announced that Chan would be reprising his role as Mr. Han in an upcoming remake of “The Karate Kid.”
While much of the film’s plot details and cast have been kept under wraps, Ralph Macchio — who led the original “Karate” trilogy in 1984 — will return to the franchise as Daniel LaRusso.
The film — set to be released on Dec. 13, 2024 — will be set on the East Coast.
