PROFILE : Anatomy of an Action Hero

Maybe it’s just the sheer amount of battering that Jackie Chan’s body has taken in the making of his films that gives him a faulty memory, but the action hero simply cannot recall all his injuries or with which films some of them were associated. Herewith, a clinical listing of the sundry injuries he can remember--hard to believe he can’t get insurance, isn’t it? Kids, don’t try this at home.

Head

Fractured skull, “Armour of God” (the accident closest to being fatal--Chan was off the set for a whopping 20 days).

Slashed eye lid requiring 20 stitches, “Drunken Master II.”

Disfigured right cheekbone from explosion, “Police Story III: Supercop.”

Cuts and scarred cheek from bottle-throwing scene, “Rumble in the Bronx.”

“Too many broken noses to count.”

Broken front tooth.

Neck

Sprained neck from falling three stories onto cement, “Project A.”

Chest

Dislocated shoulder, “Rumble in the Bronx.”

Pulled shoulder muscle from being dropped 25 feet by a crane, “Thunderbolt.”

Back sprain, “Police Story I.”

Fractured breast plate.

Internal bleeding from kick to stomach, combined with temporary loss of memory.

Arms and Hands

Two dislocated elbows.

Broken finger, “Project A.”

Broken right pinkie finger.

Slashed fingers after getting run over by a snowboard, “First Strike.”

Legs and Feet

Broken left ankle, “City Hunter.”

Broken foot, “Rumble in the Bronx.”

Another random broken foot.