Hong Kong veteran actor and member of the “Hung Clan” Cheng Fat recently criticized martial arts star Jackie Chan for being ungrateful. He lambasted Chan for not properly taking care of his “Jackie’s Clan” brothers, questioning, “Can your money be taken into the coffin?”
During the golden age of Hong Kong martial arts action films, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung respectively established “Jackie’s Clan” and “Hung Clan,” along with Lau’s Clan led by Lau Kar Leung. Each clan showcased their martial arts skills and enjoyed great success, witnessing the golden era of Hong Kong cinema. Cheng Fat, who joined the “Hung Clan” early on, recently gave an interview to the YouTube channel “Wah Chee Club” discussing the differences between “Jackie’s Clan” and “Hung Clan,” expressing gratitude for Sammo Hung’s care and mentorship over the years.
At 71 years old, Cheng Fat mentioned that Sammo Hung always recognized the strengths of each member, tailored roles for them, and allowed them to shine individually. He believed that in comparison, the brothers of “Jackie’s Clan” did not receive the same treatment.
Cheng Fat stated, “If they knew how to utilize the people around them, they wouldn’t have dispersed so drastically. Look at Jackie Chan, did he take care of them… all our ‘Hung Clan’ members can stand on their own, who from ‘Jackie’s Clan’ can stand alone?” He specifically mentioned stunt performers Mars (Chiang Wing Fat), Cheung Wah, and Lee Kan Seung, revealing that they risked their lives for Jackie Chan for many years without proper care. “Mars suffered the most hardship out of all, all the stunt performers are Mars,” he added.
Cheng Fat criticized Jackie Chan, questioning him, “If you took out even a tiny fraction of your wealth, it would be more than enough to support them for a lifetime, so why not? Can your money go into the coffin?”
He further cited an example from filming “Police Story” in 1985, recalling an incident where Lee Kan Seung fell from a double-decker bus during a scene and remained unconscious for several days, yet Jackie Chan showed no concern. Cheng Fat directly addressed Jackie Chan, saying, “You didn’t pay attention to him, so I asked him to speak out.” He expressed his frustration and demanded that Jackie Chan compensate their brothers who risked their lives together in the past.
According to reports from Hong Kong media, despite Jackie Chan claiming to never use stunt doubles, each of his action films involve stunt performers risking their lives and always the presence of his “Jackie’s Clan” brothers. Often, a dangerous stunt is first tested by a stunt performer to ensure it can be done safely before Jackie Chan performs it himself.
In his memoir, Jackie Chan wrote about facing discrimination and exclusion from American teams when he first arrived in Hollywood. In one instance, during a somersault scene where he refused to have a sponge mat laid on the ground but instead had Wu Gang from “Jackie’s Clan” perform directly on the cement floor. After repeated takes until satisfactory, Wu Gang ended up with bleeding knees and injuries.
In 2020, a well-known mainland China content creator highlighted Jackie Chan’s use of stunt doubles in various action films in an article titled “Jackie Chan, a man who deceived the world and even tricked his way to an Oscar.” The author later revised the headline to “Jackie Chan, how long will you continue your 37-year-old big lie.” The article aimed to present facts and analysis of stunt doubles in dangerous action sequences in Jackie Chan’s movies.
Research conducted by the author revealed that Jackie Chan claimed in 1983 that he would never use stunt doubles, but in a 1985 interview, he admitted to using them occasionally, then later stated, “Stunt doubles are also people, I can’t let them do dangerous stunts.” In reality, hardly any dangerous actions were performed by Jackie Chan himself.
The article delved into film footage and conducted comparative analysis, commenting that Jackie Chan has consciously packaged and idolized himself since “Project A,” portraying himself as the most daring action hero in movies and various biographies and interviews. This image served as a stepping stone, expanding his circle and resources from Hong Kong to the Chinese-speaking region and eventually Hollywood, earning numerous accolades including an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. The author lamented, “It’s a myth packaged by himself.”
Today, life for some young actors in Hong Kong has become challenging, with some resorting to working in mainland China restaurants or driving ride-hailing services. As for the older stunt performers from “Jackie’s Clan,” life may only become more challenging, having earned an income from filming in their younger days, they now struggle to find work. Cheng Fat may have decided to call out Jackie Chan during the interview after witnessing the dire living conditions of these individuals, urging him to treat his “Jackie’s Clan” brothers with kindness.