The Career of Action Star Jason Statham: From The Transporter to The Expendables

The Career of Action Star Jason Statham: From The Transporter to The Expendables He’s one of the few English actors to make it as an American action star. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the career of Jason Statham. Jason Michael Statham was born on September 12th, 1967 in the small town of Chesterfield, England, before growing up in London. His mother was a dancer and his father once made a living as a lounge singer, but Statham became a street-savvy black market salesman with more interest in sports and martial arts. His attraction to these pursuits developed when his brother used him as a punching bag in his youth, and after he was wowed by a high board diver while on holiday in Miami. He eventually devoted himself to gymnastics, diving and various fighting styles that included Wing Chun Kung Fu, Karate and kickboxing. He was a member of Britain’s National Diving Squad for over a decade, and finished twelfth in 1992’s World Championships. Despite a bright future as a professional athlete, Statham took a lucrative job as a model for the French Connection clothing brand after being approached by a talent agent. Soon after, he was introduced to British director Guy Ritchie. After learning a bit about Statham’s past, Ritchie asked him to play a street-tough conman in 1998’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” The film was an instant hit: it catapulted Statham into the acting scene and garnered him mainstream recognition. In 2000, he reteamed with Ritchie in the role of Turkish in the all-star blockbuster “Snatch.” This marked his transition to American films, which resulted in his parts in 2001’s John Carpenter horror film “Ghosts of Mars,” and the action film “The One” opposite Jet Lee. Statham followed these high-profile projects by finally taking on a starring role: He impressed both critics and audiences as Frank Martin in 2002’s “The Transporter.” Statham performed many of his own stunts, and gained even further credibility as an action star with his martial arts abilities. The film was so successful, Statham reprised the role twice more during the decade. At the same time, he took on the supporting role of Handsome Rob in 2003’s “The Italian Job,” and played the villain in 2004’s thriller “Cellular.” Despite the fact that Statham’s collaborations with Guy Ritchie had helped make him a star, the pair’s third effort was a major dud. Fortunately, 2005’s “Revolver” did not derail his blossoming career as a Hollywood juggernaut, and he soon found himself in the role of Chev Chelios in 2006’s “Crank.” In this high intensity film, he played a mob hitman who is poisoned and must perform adrenaline-increasing acts in order to stay alive long enough to find a cure and get revenge. Statham then reprised this outrageous role in “Crank: High Voltage,” and went on to star in the British crime thriller “The Bank Job,” and the action-packed remake of a 1975 film: “Death Race.” By this time in his career, Statham was already well-known as a modern action star, and as such he was featured alongside Sylvester Stallone and other ‘80s icons in “The Expendables.” In 2011, Statham remade another cinematic classic from the ‘70s: he took on the role formerly played by Charles Bronson in “The Mechanic.” He then lent his voice to the animated family comedy “Gnomeo & Juliet,” played a detective sergeant in “Blitz,” portrayed an SAS agent in “Killer Elite” opposite Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro, and rescued an abducted girl in the action film “Safe.” In 2012, Statham thrilled audiences again in “Parker” and “Echelon.” He also sided with and against more legendary movie icons in “The Expendables II.” Jason Statham has grossed more than a billion dollars at the box office, has spawned multiple hits and several popular series. He has proven he is a talented action star who shows no signs of fading from the silver screen. And, he continues to be recognized for his love of fast cars and beautiful women, which is a trait he shares with many of his on-screen characters.