Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, you couldn’t watch a kung fu movie without an appearance from martial arts actor Jet Li. We all loved him in Romeo Must Die, The Expendables, and Hero. However, the 55-year-old action star hasn’t made a film appearance in years.
The reason why is actually quite sad. It seems Jet Li has been battling hyperthyroidism, a condition that can cause fatigue and weight loss. When the Beijing-born actor recently appeared in the press again, he looked frail and almost unrecognisable.
Is that Jet Li? Alleged photos of actor in Tibet fuel speculation about his poor health https://t.co/8JEM0gtF0f pic.twitter.com/23OG2MN65f
— The Straits Times (@STcom) May 20, 2018
The above pictures alarmed fans and raised questions about the action star’s health. Could this be the same youthful actor, a national wushu champion, who was known for his acrobatic fighting moves? Diagnosed with an overactive thyroid in 2010, Jet Li was uncertain if he could continue working and hasn’t appeared in any blockbuster films since.
Li’s manager, Steven Chasman, has refuted the rumours and blamed his appearance on bad lighting and a bad angle. “He has hyperthyroidism that he’s been dealing with for almost 10 years. It’s nothing life-threatening and he’s dealing with it,” Chasman told The Washington Post.
Not long after the image made the rounds on the net, Chinese actor Jet Li responded with a Facebook post to reassure fans of his well-being:
