Jackie Chan to be honoured with lifetime achievement Oscar

Jackie Chan

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced that martial arts expert and actor Jackie Chan will receive a lifetime achievement Oscar.

The 62-year-old Hong Kong-born actor has starred in notable Hollywood movies such as Kung Fu Panda, The Karate Kid and the Rush Hour franchise. He will join documentary maker Frederick Wiseman, British film editor Anne V. Coates and casting director Lynn Stalmaster as recipients of the 2016 Governors Awards.

Each of them will receive an honorary Oscar statuette recognizing their lifetime contribution to film at a gala in Los Angeles in November. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement called them all ‘true pioneers and legends in their crafts.’

Chan made his movie debut at the age of 8, and has acted and sometimes written and directed more than 30 martial arts movies in Hong Kong. While he has tasted both critical and commercial success in his 50 plus year career, he has never won an Oscar.

In August, the ‘Armour of God’ star was ranked the second-highest paid actor in the world by Forbes with estimated earnings of $61 million in 2016, just below Fast and Furious star Dwayne Johnson.