Jackie Chan, the 72-year-old martial arts star, has been declared dead on social media once again, despite being very much alive. A black-and-white photograph of Chan with the dates "1954-2026" has been circulating online, prompting fans to question whether one of cinema's best-known action stars had died. However, these reports are false, and Chan was publicly active earlier this year.
The latest rumor appears to have been fueled by a memorial-style image designed to resemble an obituary. One widely shared post on social media used the image alongside a poorly worded tribute to Chan, quickly attracting millions of views and helping the claim spread far beyond the account that originally shared it. However, the image offered no credible evidence that Chan had died.
On July 7, Chan visited Pei Chun Public School in Singapore at an event organized with the Lim Family Foundation. He was welcomed by around 900 students and teachers and took part in a program featuring wushu, lion and dragon dances. Chan also spoke to students about his childhood, his decades in the entertainment industry, and the importance of having dreams.
Before leaving the school, Chan spontaneously performed one of his songs, providing a recent and documented record of the star being alive and active. This appearance is the latest reminder that the latest social media reports of his death are simply another hoax. Chan has been the target of false death reports for more than a decade, with previous hoaxes circulating in 2011, 2015, and 2025.
In 2015, the rumor became so widespread that Chan addressed it himself, reassuring fans that he was alive after seeing reports claiming he had died. Despite being an action legend, Chan finds himself at the center of yet another viral death hoax, this time fueled by a manipulated image.
Chan has spent more than six decades in the entertainment industry, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in international action cinema. From "Drunken Master" and "Police Story" to "Rush Hour," "The Karate Kid," and "Kung Fu Panda," he has built a career spanning Hong Kong cinema and Hollywood.
At 72, Chan remains a familiar presence in the public eye, with his July appearance in Singapore and recent reports confirming that the claim of his death is false. International media outlets have also published reports on September 29, debunking the hoax and reassuring fans that Chan is alive and well.
Key points
- Jackie Chan is alive and active, despite a viral death hoax circulating on social media.
- The hoax was fueled by a manipulated image and has been debunked by recent public appearances and reports.
- This is not the first time Chan has been the target of a false death report, with previous hoaxes circulating in 2011, 2015, and 2025.
