Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is an international action star, world renowned for years for the fact that he did his own stunts. Recently, Chan was back in the US promoting his new Disney film, "The Spy Next Door". He made the typical promotional rounds in Los Angeles, culminating with an unveiling of his wax figure at Hollywood Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on January 12, 2010. Not having previously attended one of these ceremonies, I was a bit unsure of what to expect when I arrived. The entire area was packed with spectators and several media and camera people in front of them. It was difficult to even get a clear view let alone have any access for the chance of meeting and obtaining Jackie Chan's autograph. I had heard the stories over the years of Chan being a difficult signature and several years ago in New York City had even experienced first-hand Chan ignoring collectors after an appearance on the David Letterman show. I walked around to the side of the building and noticed a security guard who seemed to be on heightened duty. Since there was a parking garage entrance there, we thought maybe they were going to bring Jackie Chan in through the garage. When the security guard walked away, my sister made her way down the ramp to investigate. A few minutes after she left, a black limousine pulled and Jackie was in the back. As Jackie opened the door to exit the car, security made a move to block me from approaching Chan. However, at the same time a couple of collectors ran from another direction, distracting the security guard so I was able to call out to Jackie and ask for an autograph. He was walking down a ramp that lead into an opened garage door. I reached out over a railing, extended my sharpie and an index card. Jackie paused a second and it was apparent that he considered not obliging but he took my pen and item and made his way into the building. Once inside, he bent over, putting the index card on his knee and signed the autograph. He dropped the pen, retrieved it, handing both the pen and autograph to a security guard who brought it back out to me. I was thrilled as this was the only autograph he signed on the way in. After the ceremony, Chan exited via the same garage door and we called out for him to sign. He took my sister's pen but did not take an item from her. Chan then took the two posters I was holding, handing one back to me and then went down the line of collectors randomly taking items. Jackie took all the items into his awaiting limousine, where he signed them and then handed them to a security guard to give back to their proper owners. We got "The Spy Next Door" poster signed at this time. Chan is a difficult autograph to say the least and when you ask him for an autograph, he kind of looks around with an expression on his face like he doesn't understand. However, Chan is proficient in English and does understand. It seems this is part of his ruse in attempting to avoid having to sign autographs for fans and collectors.