You’ve seen Jackie Chan leap off skyscrapers and survive helicopter stunts that would make a stuntman’s blood run cold. But honestly, the most resilient person in his life isn’t the one taking the punches on camera. It’s the woman who has stayed by his side for over 40 years.
Joan Lin Feng-jiao isn't just a "celebrity spouse." She was a massive star in her own right long before she became Jackie Chan's wife. If you look back at the 1970s, she was basically the sweetheart of Taiwanese cinema.
Who exactly is Joan Lin?
Joan was born in Taipei back in 1953. Her childhood wasn't exactly a fairytale. She grew up in a family of five children, and they were quite poor. In fact, things were so tight she had to drop out of school at age 12 just to work. It’s that kind of grit that probably helped her survive the roller coaster of being married to a global superstar later on.
By the time she was 19, she landed her first film role in The Hero of Chiu Chow. She didn't just act; she dominated. During the '70s, there was this group called the "Two Chins, Two Lins." It was the ultimate A-list circle of the era. Joan was right there alongside Brigitte Lin and Charlie Chin.
She wasn't just a pretty face for the posters. In 1979, she won the Best Leading Actress award at the 16th Golden Horse Awards for her role in The Story of a Small Town. That’s like the Chinese-language equivalent of winning an Oscar. Then, at the absolute peak of her fame—with over 70 movies under her belt—she just... disappeared.
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The secret wedding that changed everything
People always wonder why she quit. Basically, she met Jackie in January 1981, and things moved fast. Very fast. By 1982, she was pregnant.
Jackie has been pretty blunt about this in his memoir, Never Grow Up. He admitted he felt "forced" into marriage because of the pregnancy. They got married in a secret ceremony in a Los Angeles coffee shop. Their son, Jaycee Chan, was born just one day later.
Talk about a whirlwind.
Joan didn't just take a break; she retired completely to raise Jaycee in the U.S. while Jackie was off becoming the biggest action star on the planet. For years, the public barely saw her. She was the anchor while he was the kite.
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Jackie Chan’s wife and the 1999 scandal
If you want to know what most people get wrong, it’s the idea that their marriage has been some perfect Hollywood romance. It hasn't.
In 1999, the world found out Jackie had an affair with Elaine Ng Yi Lei, a former Miss Asia. The affair resulted in a daughter, Etta Ng. Jackie famously called it a "mistake that many men in the world make."
Most people expected Joan to walk away. Honestly, nobody would have blamed her. Jackie himself has said he was terrified of calling her. He thought she’d want a divorce and take his money. He had even spent years trying to keep his finances away from her because he didn't trust her—or anyone, really.
Why did she stay?
When he finally called her, Joan didn't scream. She didn't demand a payout. Instead, she told him he needed to go deal with the situation and that she and Jaycee would support him.
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That moment changed Jackie. It made him realize that while he was out playing the hero, his wife was the one with the real strength. He eventually rewrote his will to leave his fortune—estimated at $400 million—to her and charity, bypassing his children entirely. He realized she was the only one who truly stayed for him, not the fame.
Where is Joan Lin now?
These days, Joan stays out of the limelight. She made a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Jackie’s 2012 film CZ12 (also known as Chinese Zodiac), which was a huge deal because she hadn't been on screen in thirty years.
She's mostly seen at charity events or supporting Jackie’s career from the wings. She handles the family's business interests and, by all accounts, runs the show behind the scenes.
Actionable steps for fans
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of this iconic duo, here’s what you can do:
- Watch her classics: Track down The Story of a Small Town (1979). It’s the best way to see why she was considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
- Read the memoir: Pick up Jackie Chan's Never Grow Up. He doesn't hold back on his own flaws, and he gives a very raw look at how much he put Joan through.
- Look for the CZ12 cameo: If you own the movie, skip to the end. It’s a sweet moment that basically served as Jackie’s public tribute to her.
Their story isn't a simple one. It’s messy, complicated, and full of mistakes. But it’s also a story about a woman who traded a massive career for a private life and held a family together when the world was watching it fall apart.