'Is Jackie Chan alive?': Bizarre death hoax about legendary Chinese actor fact-checked | Hindustan T

Social media has suddenly been hit with a series of posts that claim that Chinese actor Jackie Chan has passed away. The posts are a hoax, and the 72-year-old actor is alive.

Chan, whose real name is Fang Shilong, enjoys global popularity, making him bigger than any one country's industry. As a result, the viral claims about Jackie Chan's death spread like wildfire in the last 24 hours.

The actor, who is worth over $400 million in 2026, lives primarily in Hong Kong, where he has converted a factory warehouse in Kowloon Tong residential neighborhood into a home with hidden rooms and secret doors.

Jackie Chan last appeared in public in July 2026 in Singapore . He showed up for a surprise visit at the Pei Chun Public School and surprised the students and staff by singing his song, Hard to Say Goodbye.

Posts started circulating on social media, particularly in the United States, claiming that Jackie Chan has passed away. A black-and-white photo of the actor, with the text "Jackie Chan" followed by "1954-2026," began circulating.

The posts picked up millions of views worldwide. For instance, this post from a user named Abdul has gotten over 3.8 million views within just five hours.

However, as mentioned before, HT.com can confirm that Jackie Chan has not passed away. He is very much alive and involved in ongoing projects.

Also read: Quote of the day by Jackie Chan: “Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to stand back up…”

Jackie Chan's last public appearance was on July 7 this year in Singapore, the country's largest daily, The Straits Times reported . Chan turned up at the Pei Chun Public School for a surprise visit organized by the Lim Family Foundation.

The report states that the actor interacted with over 900 students during the visit. He also sang the song Hard To Say Goodbye, a video shared from the event showed.

Also read: Jackie Chan opens up about estranged relationship with son Jaycee, admits ‘strict parenting’ pushed them apart

“Looking at you today made me remember my childhood years and humble beginnings," Chan had said at the event. "I had no hope. My only hope was my bowl of plain rice and to not be beaten by my teacher.”

“Please work hard. Dreams may not come true but, without dreams, you definitely won’t succeed,” he added.

Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously. Read More