Jackie Chan’s One True Love: Why the Global Icon Kept His Wife Hidden for 40 Years (7 photos)

Almost everyone knows actor, stuntman, and producer Jackie Chan. Generations grew up watching the agile, charismatic star's movies, with many fans dreaming of being just like him. But be honest: have you ever wondered whether the global icon is married, and why Mr. Chan himself prefers to keep his personal life under wraps?





Jackie Chan's children have made headlines in their fair share of scandals over the years. First, his son was caught up in a high-profile drug bust, and later, his daughter came out and moved in with her girlfriend. Naturally, having children means there was a wife involved—or perhaps even more than one. In reality, he has been married to just one woman for 40 years. Yet she has always stayed out of the spotlight, keeping a low profile alongside a husband who, as it turns out, is far from easy to live with.



The action star's wife is Taiwanese actress Joan Lin. The pair met back in 1982, when Jackie was already a household name. Joan was visiting a friend who worked as an editor for a popular publication, who happened to have a meeting scheduled with the rising star that day. It is said that Chan fell for her at first sight, and after talking to her briefly, he knew she was the one.





In 1983, they tied the knot in a modest, secret ceremony. Jackie Chan was desperate to hide his marital status from his female fans, fearing it would hurt his heartthrob image. Joan didn't mind—she was so head over heels in love that she agreed to a secret wedding without a second thought. In 1984, the couple welcomed a son, Chan Cho-ming, who later took the name Jaycee Chan.



Even after becoming a father, the actor kept his family life strictly under wraps, maintaining his image as an eligible bachelor. Jackie didn't shy away from women—he was frequently spotted out with various beauties—but behind closed doors, his heart belonged to his wife.



Despite their bond, the truth eventually came out in 1999. While filming "Gorgeous," Chan had a brief affair with actress Elaine Wu, who later gave birth to his daughter, Etta Ng Chok Lam. The tabloid scandal sent shockwaves through the press, and while the actor flatly denied the relationship, Joan saw right through it.



Etta Ng Chok Lam and Elaine Wu

Ultimately, his wife forgiven the affair, but she demanded that he be honest with the public and acknowledge his paternity. Jackie did just that, though he flatly refused to talk to reporters about the child. Soon after, tension flared within the family over money when the actor decided to donate a massive portion of his fortune to charity—a move his son strongly opposed.



Not long after, the young man was arrested on drug possession charges, and Jackie famously refused to pull strings to help him. In media interviews, Chan stated that Jaycee knew what he was getting into and that it would serve as a valuable lesson. Fortunately, the ordeal didn't drive a permanent wedge between father and son, and they eventually reconciled. His relationship with Joan Lin survived as well, and the couple remains happily together to this day.