Jason Statham ( born 26 July 1967) is an English actor. He is known for portraying characters in various action-thriller films who are typically tough, hardboiled, gritty, or violent. Statham has been credited for leading the resurgence of action films during the 2000s and 2010s. His film career through 2017 generated over $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) in ticket sales, making him one of the film industry’s most bankable stars.
Statham began practising Chinese martial arts, kickboxing, and karate recreationally in his youth while working at local market stalls.
It was the first film collaboration between the director Martin Campbell and actor Stuart Wilson, who both later worked in The Mask of Zorro and Vertical Limit, both released in 1998 and 2000, and the film was also the third collaboration between the producer Hurd and Henriksen, after The Terminator and Aliens, both directed by James Cameron, and released in 1984 and 1986. The film grossed $15.3 million in the United States and Canada and $22.4 million worldwide.
An avid footballer and diver, he was a member of Britain’s national diving team and competed for England in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Shortly after, he was asked to model for French Connection, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi’s in various advertising campaigns. His past history working at market stalls inspired his casting in the Guy Ritchie crime films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000).