World-renowned martial arts master and Asian film star JET LI (Liu Jiuan, Producer, Story) burst into Hollywood in 1998 with his first English-language film appearance in Lethal Weapon IV. After completing over 25 films in Hong Kong and China, Li took his first role as a villain staffing opposite Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo and Chris Rock in the Richard Donner film.
Li has most recently garnered rave reviews for his performance in the box-office success Romeo Must Die. In this modern-day Romeo and Juliet, Li plays "Romeo" to singer Aaliyah Haughton's "Juliet." Produced by Joel Silver, the film blended hip-hop with kung fu, creating a new type of action picture.
Following KISS OF THE DRAGON, Li began production on the action-thriller The One, also starring Delroy Lindo and Jason Stathan. Li portrays a character who travels through hundreds of universes, in hopes of becoming a god — The One. The film is directed by James Wong.
On the horizon is the film First King, which Li will star in and co-produce with Joel Silver. Based on an original idea by Li, the film will combine the suspense, action and thriller elements depicted in the Indiana Jones films and The Mummy. In addition, Li has teamed with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions to produce a martial arts television series entitled Invincible. The series features the ancient martial art of Wushu and spectacularly choreographed action sequences in the Hong Kong filmmaking style.
Born in Beijing. Li began studying the art of Wushu (the genral Chinese term for martial arts) and was enrolled in the Beijing Amateur Sports School at age 8. After three years of extensive training, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. As part of a world tour in 1974, he had the honor of performing a two-man fight for President Nixon on the White House lawn. For the next four years, Li remained the All-Around National Wushu Champion of China.
Shortly after retiring from the sport. at age 17. Li was offered many motion picture starring roles, beginning his film career with director Chang Hsin Yen in Shaolin Temple. Upon its release, Li was propelled into instant movie stardom, and the film was an enormous success that spawned two sequels. Li subsequently starred in 25 successful Asian films before coming to America.
Li currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
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