Jackie Chan is alive: Fake ‘1954-2026’ death posts go viral worldwide

Dubai: A bizarre social media hoax claiming legendary Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan has died has gone viral, prompting renewed questions about the actor’s wellbeing.

Posts featuring a black-and-white image of Chan alongside the dates “1954-2026” have circulated widely online, falsely suggesting that the 72-year-old actor has passed away.

There is no credible evidence that Chan has died. The actor, whose real name is Fang Shilong, is alive and continues to make public appearances and work on upcoming projects.

The false claims spread rapidly across social media platforms, with some posts attracting millions of views. One widely circulated post reportedly received more than 3.8 million views within five hours.

How the hoax spread

The fake death reports appear to have been fuelled by the circulation of the memorial-style image bearing Chan’s name and the years of his birth and alleged death.

Such death hoaxes involving major international celebrities frequently spread rapidly online, particularly when posts use realistic-looking tribute images without providing a credible source.

Chan’s most recent widely reported public appearance was in Singapore on July 7, when he made a surprise visit to Pei Chun Public School.

According to Singapore’s The Straits Times, Chan visited the school as part of an event organised by the Lim Family Foundation and interacted with more than 900 students.

Videos from the visit showed the actor singing his song “Hard to Say Goodbye” and speaking with students and staff.

The appearance provides a recent, documented public record of Chan, contradicting the viral claims that he has died.

Chan, one of the world's best-known action stars, has enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades, appearing in films including “Rush Hour”, “Police Story” and “Drunken Master”.

The actor remains active in the entertainment industry, while unverified claims about his death continue to circulate online.