Chinese star actor, Jet Li may have spent the last few years away from the spotlight, but a recent photo reportedly of the action star with a fan has
Chinese star actor, Jet Li may have spent the last few years away from the spotlight, but a recent photo reportedly of the action star with a fan has fueled speculation that the 55 year old’s health is declining. Jet Li has not yet commented on the recent photo, but it’s a far cry from shots posted on his Instagram from recent months. The Beijing-born actor revealed in 2013 that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism after being diagnosed in 2010.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. These hormones control the way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats.
Jet Li also has a heart condition as well as trouble standing for long periods of time due to injuries attained on his legs and spine decades of stunts and injuries from his films. In 2016, when speculations about his health reached an all time high, he said, “There is nothing to worry about my health. I’m not sure which wheelchair company is putting out such news to sell more wheelchairs. Perhaps someone wants me to be a spokesman for their wheelchairs. I’m in pain, but I’m not suffering. I’m happy,” he said at the time.
But last month, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively announced that Jet Li was in final talks to play the emperor of China, who orders the mobilization of troops via the conscription of one male from each household in Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan.
For years, Li was one of the most electrifying martial arts actors in the world. A national wushu champion, he broke out in film after portraying the legendary folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the “Once Upon a Time in China” series. His fights, though choreographed and sometimes employing wire tricks, evinced a fierce athleticism and fluidity of movement.
He would then branch out to American and European productions such as “Romeo Must Die,” “The Expendables” and “Kiss of the Dragon,” where his character subdued a room full of French police singlehandedly. Even after going to Hollywood, Li would continue to work with Chinese directors, such as Zhang Yimou in “Hero.”
