” Jason Statham, British action star, is celebrated for his tough-guy roles, martial arts expertise and magnetic on-screen presence. “
Born Name : Jason Statham
Born : 26 July 1967 (age 56)
Address : Shirebrook, Derbyshire, England
Years active : 1993–present
Partner(s) : Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Occupation : Actor
(2010– Present engaged)
Children : 02
About
Jason Statham, born on July 26, 1967, is an English actor and martial artist acclaimed for his roles in action-thriller films, often portraying tough, gritty, or violent characters. Credited with spearheading the resurgence of action cinema during the 2000s and 2010s, his films amassed over $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) in ticket sales by 2017, solidifying his status as one of the industry’s most reliable stars.
Statham’s early years saw him engaging in Chinese martial arts, kickboxing, and karate as hobbies while working at local market stalls. Alongside his athletic pursuits, he excelled as a footballer and diver, representing Britain in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. His market stall background and athletic prowess caught the eye of fashion brands like French Connection, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi’s, leading to modeling gigs. This unique blend of experiences influenced his casting in Guy Ritchie’s crime films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000).
The success of these films propelled Statham into the spotlight, notably as Frank Martin in the Transporter trilogy (2002–2008). Subsequently, he showcased his versatility in a range of heist and action-thriller movies such as The Italian Job (2003), Crank (2006), War (2007), The Bank Job (2008), The Mechanic (2011), Spy (2015), and Mechanic: Resurrection (2016), establishing himself as a leading figure in Hollywood.
Despite occasional commercial and critical setbacks in films like Revolver (2005), Chaos (2005), In the Name of the King (2007), 13 (2010), Blitz (2011), Killer Elite (2011), Hummingbird (2013), and Wild Card (2015), Statham rebounded with ensemble action projects like The Expendables (2010–2014) and the Fast & Furious franchise, notably in the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw (2019), where he portrayed Deckard Shaw.
Early life
Jason Statham was born on July 26, 1967, in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to dancer Eileen (née Yates) and street seller Barry Statham. His father also worked as a house painter, coal miner, and singer in the Canary Islands. Statham later moved to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, opting not to follow his father’s career on local market stalls and instead pursuing martial arts. He grew up with football player Vinnie Jones, who introduced him to football. Statham played for his local grammar school from 1978 to 1983, a passion he balanced with diving.
Practicing daily, he joined Britain’s National Swimming Squad for 12 years and competed for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in various diving events. In a 2003 interview with IGN, he described his national squad experience as invaluable, teaching him discipline, focus, and keeping him out of trouble.
Statham’s media career began when he was scouted by Sports Promotions, a sports modeling agency, while training at London’s Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. He modeled for brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Griffin, and Levi’s in their 1996 spring/summer collections and became a model for French Connection in 1997. A spokesperson for French Connection remarked that they chose Statham for his relatable, masculine look. Despite his modeling success, Statham continued to sell items on street corners to make ends meet, including fake perfume and jewelry. He also appeared in several music videos, such as “Comin’ On” by The Shamen (1993), “Run to the Sun” by Erasure (1994), and “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by The Beautiful South (1995).
Career
2000–2010: Rise to prominence
While modeling for French Connection, Jason Statham met British director Guy Ritchie, who was casting for his film project and needed a street-wise con artist. Learning about Statham’s background as a black market salesman, Ritchie cast him as “Bacon” in the 1998 crime comedy thriller Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The film was well received, bringing Statham into the public eye. For this role, he earned £5,000. Statham’s second collaboration with Ritchie was in the 2000 film Snatch, where he played “Turkish.” Cast alongside Brad Pitt, Snatch grossed over $80 million at the box office. Statham earned £15,000 for his role.
Statham broke into Hollywood with roles in Ghosts of Mars and The One in 2001. His career continued to ascend in 2002 when he starred in The Transporter, written by Luc Besson. Having studied Wing Chun, karate, and kickboxing, Statham was well-suited for the role. The Transporter spawned sequels in 2005 and 2008. He also appeared in Mean Machine (2002), The Italian Job (2003), and Cellular (2004).
In 2005, Ritchie cast Statham in Revolver, which failed critically and commercially. However, Statham found success with roles in the independent film London (2006) and the action film Crank (2006). In 2008, he starred in The Bank Job and Death Race. Film critic Armond White praised Statham’s track record, and Empire noted Transporter 3 for establishing him as a new action hero.
In 2010, Statham joined the ensemble cast of The Expendables, playing Lee Christmas, a former SAS soldier. The film was a commercial success, grossing $274 million worldwide.
2011–2015: Commercial expansion
In 2011, Jason Statham starred as Arthur Bishop in the remake of The Mechanic. Despite a banned trailer for excessive violence, his performance was praised, with The Guardian commending his “customary efficiency” and The New York Times calling him “sleek as a bullet.” Statham then played Detective Sergeant Tom Brant in Blitz, which received mixed reviews. He starred in Killer Elite alongside Robert De Niro, but the film flopped.
In 2013, Statham played Parker in Parker, with The New York Times noting his comfort with the role’s limitations. By 2012, his films had grossed over a billion dollars, making him a bankable star. He reprised his role as Lee Christmas in The Expendables 2 and had a cameo in Fast & Furious 6, returning as the main antagonist in Furious 7 (2015). He starred in Homefront and Hummingbird, with the latter praised for showcasing his dramatic range.
In 2015, Statham’s comedic talents shone in Spy, earning him a Critic’s Choice nomination. Despite being offered a reboot of the Transporter series, he declined due to script and pay issues. Expressing interest in playing James Bond, Statham garnered public support for the role.
2016–present: Continued success
The sequel to Jason Statham’s 2011 film The Mechanic, titled Mechanic: Resurrection, was produced in late 2016 and became a commercial success, grossing $109.4 million worldwide. It was Statham’s most successful solo film venture.
In February 2017, Statham appeared with Gal Gadot in a Super Bowl ad for Wix.com, reaching 22 million impressions. He returned to the Fast & Furious franchise in The Fate of the Furious (2017), which became the third highest-grossing film of the year. Despite mixed reviews, Statham’s comedic timing and chemistry were praised.
In 2018, Statham starred in The Meg, grossing $527.8 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing U.S.-Chinese co-production. In 2019, he reprised his role as Deckard Shaw in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. The film grossed $758 million worldwide, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2019, with critics praising Statham’s performance.
Personal life
Jason Statham has been in a relationship with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley since 2010. The couple announced their engagement in January 2016 and welcomed their son in June 2017. Their daughter was born on February 2, 2022. They reside in Beverly Hills, California.
Statham enjoys various outdoor activities, including wakeboarding, jet skiing, windsurfing, and rock climbing. During the filming of The Expendables 3 in Varna, Bulgaria, he experienced a dangerous incident where he drove a truck off the road into the Black Sea due to malfunctioning brakes.
In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, Statham advocated for an Academy Award category for stunt performers, calling them “unsung heroes” who risk their lives without receiving proper recognition.
In 2014, Statham was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
