Jet Li

Cast as the lead villain in the fantasy action film "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"

First onscreen collaboration with fellow Chinese actor Jackie Chan, "The Forbidden Kingdom"

Played an assassin in "War" opposite Jason Statham

Returned to roots of kung fu in "Fearless" (final martial arts film)

Played an orphan, raised by a crime boss (Bob Hoskins) to function like an attack hound in Luc Besson's "Unleased"

Teamed with Maggie Cheung in "Hero" (lensed 2001), directed by Zhang Yimou

Reunited with "Romeo Must Die" co-star DMX and director Andrzej Bartkowiak for "Cradle 2 the Grave"

Cast as a man chasing various incarnations of himself across several dimensions in the sci-fi martial arts thriller "The One"

Had leading role in and co-produced "Kiss of the Dragon"; co-produced and co-written by Luc Besson

With Mel Gibson, executive produced the TBS movie "Invincible"

Breakthrough role in "Romeo Must Die"

Cast in a villainous role in "Lethal Weapon 4"

Producing debut with "Bodyguard From Beijing"; also starred

Breakthrough role of Wong Fei-hung in "Once Upon a Time in China" directed by Tsui Hark

Moved to Hong Kong; signed to a contract by Golden Harvest

First feature filmed in the USA, "The Master" directed by Tsui Hark; film not widely released until 1992

Obtained two-year exit visa from China; settled in San Francisco; married and divorced

Directorial debut, "Born to Defend"; film was a box-office failure

Feature film debut in "Shaolin Temple"; also starred in two sequels in 1984 and 1986

Made first trip to the USA to perform in a wu shu troupe at the White House for President Richard Nixon

Represented China in wu shu demonstrations throughout the world; also won gold medals in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1979

Won first gold medal as champion of the youth national athletic competition

Began to study wu shu, a form of martial arts, at age eight