Honestly, if you only know Jackie Chan from his death-defying stunts in Rush Hour or Police Story, you've basically missed the most dramatic plotline of his life. It isn't a movie. It's his 40-plus-year marriage. Joan Lin is Jackie Chan’s current wife, and she has been since 1982.
She isn't just a "plus-one" at red carpet events. Far from it. Joan was a massive star in her own right long before she became the woman standing by the world's most famous martial artist. People often assume being married to a global icon is all glitz and glamour, but for Joan Lin, it’s been more about endurance and a level of privacy that borders on the extreme.
Who actually is Joan Lin?
Before the world knew her as Mrs. Chan, she was Joan Lin Feng-jiao, a Taiwanese acting powerhouse. Born in 1953 in Taipei, her early life was anything but easy. She dropped out of school at 12 because her family was struggling financially. Imagine that. By 19, she was starring in Kung Fu films like The Hero of Chiu Chow.
She wasn't just working; she was dominating.
In the 1970s, the media dubbed her as part of the "Two Chins, Two Lins." This was basically the Avengers of Taiwanese cinema. Alongside Brigitte Lin, Charlie Chin, and Chin Han, she ruled the box office. She even nabbed a Best Leading Actress win at the 16th Golden Horse Awards for The Story of a Small Town.
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Then, she just... stopped.
The secret wedding in Los Angeles
The timeline here is kinda wild. Jackie and Joan met in early 1981. By 1982, they were secretly getting married in a Los Angeles coffee shop. No, really. Jackie has been pretty blunt about this in his memoir Never Grow Up. He admitted he felt somewhat "forced" into the marriage because Joan had become pregnant with their son, Jaycee Chan.
Jaycee was born literally the day after they tied the knot.
For the next several decades, Joan basically vanished from the public eye. She traded a peak acting career for a life of raising her son in the U.S. while Jackie spent most of his time on film sets across the globe. It was a lifestyle that most modern couples would find impossible.
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The 1999 scandal that almost ended everything
You can't talk about Jackie Chan’s current wife without mentioning the "serious mistake" of 1999. This is the part most people get wrong when they think their marriage is a fairy tale. Jackie had a very public affair with Elaine Ng, a former Miss Asia. The affair resulted in a daughter, Etta Ng.
When the news broke, Jackie thought his marriage was over. He actually expected Joan to ask for a divorce immediately.
He didn't get a phone call full of screaming. Instead, Joan was incredibly calm. She reportedly told him that he didn't need to explain and that he should go handle the mess he made, but that she and Jaycee would be there for him. It’s the kind of reaction that sounds almost unbelievable today. Jackie later admitted that this moment was a massive wake-up call. He realized he had been a "jerk" and started taking his role as a husband seriously for the first time in years.
Where are they now in 2026?
Fast forward to today, and they are still together. They've outlasted almost every other "power couple" from that era.
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Jackie has been making more public appearances with his family lately. Just recently, in August 2025, he was spotted in Switzerland with Jaycee. While Joan still prefers to stay out of the spotlight, she remains the person Jackie credits with holding his life together. He’s even gone on record saying that his entire $350 million fortune is essentially intended for Joan and charity, rather than his children, because of her unwavering loyalty.
- Longevity: Married since 1982.
- Career sacrifice: Joan retired at the height of her fame.
- Legal ties: She handles much of his business and personal affairs behind the scenes.
- Resilience: She navigated a massive public infidelity scandal without ever trashing her husband in the press.
Why this matters for fans
Kinda makes you look at Jackie Chan differently, right? Behind the guy who breaks every bone in his body for our entertainment is a woman who has spent four decades managing the chaos of his fame.
If you're looking for lessons in their relationship, it’s basically a masterclass in resilience—even if it’s a version of marriage that feels very "old school" or controversial to some. Joan Lin chose a path of private strength. She isn't just an "action star's wife." She’s a former cinema queen who decided that her family was her most important role.
If you want to understand the man, you have to understand the woman who stayed.
Actionable insights for followers of the Chan family:
- Check out Joan's old films: If you can find a copy of The Story of a Small Town, watch it. It’s a glimpse into the talent she walked away from.
- Read the memoir: Pick up Never Grow Up by Jackie Chan. It's surprisingly raw about his failures as a husband.
- Support Jaycee’s projects: If you're a fan of the legacy, keep an eye on Jaycee’s musical and film work, as he is the primary bridge between Jackie and Joan’s public lives.