A recent photo of martial arts legend Jet Li visiting a temple in Tibet has gone viral leaving fans shocked by Li’s frail appearance. The 55-year-old Hollywood icon, who starred in “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Once Upon a Time in China,” and “Expendables 2,” revealed five years ago he is suffering from hyperthyroidism.
The action star said that he was unable to perform stressful physical activities due to his condition. He said he had been warned by doctors in 2013 that he “would end up in a wheelchair” if he continued making physically-demanding action films.
The “Romeo Must Die” star said he was also suffering from leg and spinal problems, which prevent him from standing straight for too long. His poor health resulted from decades of demanding film roles, stunts, and injuries.
He has been making films since he burst onto the scene as a former national Wushu champion while in his teens in the late 1970s. He is slated to star in “Mulan” as the emperor in 2020.