Jackie Chan was 40 when he learnt his father was a spy: My original name is Fong

Legendary actor Jackie Chan, celebrated for his remarkable martial arts prowess, recently shared a fascinating personal history. The actor revealed that his father was actually a spy.The 71-year-old Hong Kong actor recently reflected on the surreal moment when his late father, Charles, revealed that he had once worked as a spy for the Chinese government in the 1940s. In a retrospective with PEOPLE, Chan shared that he didn't discover this 'secret' until he was in his 40s.advertisementWhile talking about the same, he said, 'One day, I was driving a car, my father suddenly said, 'Son, I'm old. I might sleep and never wake up. I have a secret to tell you'.
His father then informed him of his true identity, revealing that their surname was Fong.Jackie Chan's rich family history was spotlighted in Mabel Cheung's 2003 documentary 'Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family'. The film delves into the life of the actor's late father, who worked as a spy for Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) during the 1930s and 1940s. Following political turmoil, he escaped to Hong Kong in the 1950s to avoid persecution by the Communists.The actor revealed that he was 'very shocked' at the revelation and initially felt unable to listen to his father Charles' explanation of his past.advertisementChan's mother led an equally fascinating life. Before settling in Hong Kong, she was a stage performer in Shanghai and was involved in smuggling opium. In his retrospective with PEOPLE, Chan described her as a 'very traditional' woman who supported his film career but couldn't bring herself to watch him perform dangerous stunts on screen.Meanwhile, the actor returned to the Karate Kid franchise with 'Karate Kid: Legends'. The film is the sixth installment in the 'Karate Kid' franchise.'Karate Kid: Legends' is distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment India in Indian theatres on May 30, in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

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