Nationality: Australian
Martial arts of choice: Boxing, karate, wushu, judo, aikido
Bradley James Allan occupied a unique space in the world of martial arts cinema. As an Australian man who stood just 5 feet 4 inches tall, the deck was stacked against Allan in his dreams of becoming a kung fu movie star. By the time he was 10 years old, Allan was already working hard toward his goal of becoming an expert in kickboxing, karate, wushu, aikido, and more. When Jackie Chan shot a movie in Australia, 1997's "Mr. Nice Guy," Allan had the chance to meet his kung fu idol. Chan recounted their meeting, saying, "He was just a fan and I remember him coming to visit the set... it was because of his amazing skills and talent, he transformed from being a fan to a stuntman, and eventually joined my JC Stunt Team," per The Wrap.
Allan wound up playing a small role in "Mr. Nice Guy" and continued working with Chan over the years both in front of and behind the camera. His biggest and best role was in 1999's "Gorgeous," in which Allan plays Chan's toughest opponent. The two have not one but two excellent extended head-to-head fight scenes, and Allan's remarkable speed is on full display.
After 2003's "Shanghai Knights," Allan stopped appearing in front of the camera but continued working behind the scenes as a stunt man, fight choreographer, and action coordinator, working on huge mainstream movies like "Pacific Rim," "Avatar," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," "Wonder Woman," "Solo: A Star Wars Story," the "Kingsman" series, and much more. Sadly, Allan passed away recently in 2021 at just 48 years old.
