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5 Shocking Secrets About Jackie Chan's Father: From Kuomintang Spy To Embassy Chef

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The unbelievable true story of Jackie Chan’s father, Charles Chan, is a narrative more dramatic and action-packed than any of the films his famous son has starred in. As of December 25, 2025, the resurfacing details of Charles Chan’s past—from a Kuomintang (KMT) spy and gang leader in war-torn China to a respected chef at the Australian Embassy—continue to shock fans and highlight the incredible, hidden history of the Chan family.

This deep dive into the life of Charles Chan, whose birth name was Fang Daolong, reveals a perilous journey of espionage, smuggling, and survival during the turbulent years of the Chinese Civil War. Jackie Chan himself only discovered the full, astonishing truth about his father’s secret life in his forties, a revelation that completely reshaped his understanding of his family's origins and his own real surname, Fang.

Charles Chan (Fang Daolong) Complete Biography Profile

The man known to the world as Charles Chan led a life of multiple identities, driven by the chaos and danger of 20th-century China.

  • Birth Name: Fang Daolong (房道龍)
  • Also Known As: Charles Chan Chi-Ping
  • Date of Birth: December 18, 1914
  • Place of Birth: He County, Anhui, China
  • Date of Death: February 26, 2008 (aged 93)
  • Spouse: Lee-Lee Chan (Lily Chan) (1916 – 2002)
  • Son: Chan Kong-sang (Jackie Chan)
  • Early Life: Born into a respected family, but became a "disorderly kid." He served as an orderly to a Kuomintang (KMT) general.
  • Secret Life: Briefly worked as a secret agent/spy for Lieutenant General Dai Li, the chief spy of KMT-ruled China, and was involved in smuggling and gang activities in Shanghai.
  • Later Life: Fled to Hong Kong, where he met Lee-Lee Chan. He later became the head cook/chef at the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia.
  • Legacy: His life story, along with his wife’s, was the inspiration for the 2015 romantic drama film A Tale of Three Cities, and was documented in the 2003 film Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan & His Lost Family.

The Kuomintang Spy: Espionage, Gangs, and the Chinese Civil War

Charles Chan’s life as a Nationalist spy is the most compelling and least-known chapter of his history. Born Fang Daolong, his early years were marked by the political upheaval of the Chinese Civil War.

His connection to the Kuomintang (KMT) was deep. He was not just a low-level operative; he briefly worked for one of the most powerful and feared figures in Nationalist China: Lieutenant General Dai Li. Dai Li was the chief spy and head of the KMT's intelligence apparatus, a role that placed Charles Chan directly in the heart of political danger.

The espionage work was intertwined with a life of crime. Charles Chan was reportedly a gang leader and was involved in smuggling activities in the bustling, yet dangerous, metropolis of Shanghai.

His path crossed with that of his future wife, Lee-Lee Chan (formerly Lily Chan), who was an opium-trading widow and stage performer. Their meeting in the volatile environment of Shanghai was a true-life thriller, a story of two survivors navigating the treacherous landscape of post-war China.

The couple fled to Hong Kong to escape the Communist victory in 1949, changing their names to Charles and Lee-Lee Chan to hide their past identities and protect themselves from political retribution. This name change is why Jackie Chan was born with the surname Chan, rather than his ancestral surname, Fang.

From Chinese Agent to Australian Embassy Chef

The most dramatic pivot in Charles Chan’s life came in 1960 when he decided to leave the political turmoil of Hong Kong behind. This move was a complete and total transformation from a life of danger to one of domestic service in the diplomatic world.

An opportunity arose through Charles Greene, the Marshall of the French Embassy in Hong Kong. Greene offered Charles Chan a position as a chef, initially at the French Consulate, but later confirmed as the head cook at the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia.

Charles Chan seized the chance for a fresh start, moving to Canberra with his wife. However, due to his turbulent past, he made the difficult decision to leave his young son, Chan Kong-sang (Jackie Chan), behind in Hong Kong to attend the China Drama Academy. Jackie was just seven years old at the time.

In Australia, Charles Chan and Lee-Lee lived a quiet, respectable life, a stark contrast to their Shanghai and Hong Kong years. He served the American diplomats in Canberra, maintaining a life of secrecy that lasted for decades. He was so well-integrated that he was even involved in some Kuomintang (KMT) activities within the Australian Chinese community, suggesting his Nationalist ties were never fully severed.

The Shocking Revelation: When Jackie Chan Learned the Truth

The secret of Charles Chan’s past was kept tightly under wraps until Jackie Chan reached his forties. The action star, already a global phenomenon, was completely unaware of the true extent of his father's history.

The revelation happened suddenly and spontaneously while Jackie Chan was driving with his father. Charles Chan simply turned to his son and confessed his life as a spy for the Chinese government in the 1940s.

This confession was the beginning of Jackie Chan's journey to uncover his true heritage. He learned that his birth name was Chan Kong-sang, but his real ancestral surname was Fang, and his father was Fang Daolong. He also discovered he had two half-brothers from his father’s previous marriage in China, and two half-sisters from his mother’s previous marriage.

The full, incredible story was eventually documented in the 2003 film Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan & His Lost Family, which shed light on the perilous lives of his parents during the Chinese Civil War and the painful decisions they made to survive.

Charles Chan passed away in 2008 at the age of 93 in Hong Kong, having lived long enough to see his son become one of the world's biggest movie stars. His life story—from a KMT agent operating under the shadow of Lieutenant General Dai Li to a chef in the Australian capital of Canberra—remains a testament to the dramatic, often hidden, histories forged by global conflict and the enduring power of family secrets.

jackie chan father spy
jackie chan father spy

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