Veteran action star Jackie Chan is one of four people slated to receive an honorary Oscar this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday.



According to the Academy, honorary Oscars are awarded "to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy." Though not necessarily considered lifetime achievement awards, the awards are often given to individuals with decades of experience under their belts.



Chan, 62, has been acting since he was eight years old, and broke into Hollywood in 1996 with the release of "Rumble in the Bronx." He has since gone on to star in international hits including the "Rush Hour" series, "Shanghai Noon," "Shanghai Knights," "Around the World in 80 Days," and the "Kung Fu Panda" movies. Chan has made more than 30 martial arts films in his native Hong Kong, many of which he also wrote, directed, and produced.



In addition to Chan, three other recipients were tapped for honorary Oscars. They are: Anne V. Coates, a film editor who's worked on legendary projects including 1962's "Laurence of Arabia" (for which she won an Oscar), and has been nominated for four other Academy Awards ("Becket," "The Elephant Man," "In the Line of Fire," and "Out of Sight"); Lynn Stalmaster, a casting director whose six-decade career has spanned classics including "The Graduate," "Harold and Maude," "Tootsie," and "The Right Stuff" and helped launch the careers of actors including Jon Voight, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Reeve, and John Travolta; and Frederick Wiseman, a documentary filmmaker whose work has focused on social issues and governmental institutions, in films such as "Titicut Follies," "Law and Order," and "In Jackson Heights."



"The Honorary Award was created for artists like Jackie Chan, Anne Coates, Lynn Stalmaster and Frederick Wiseman – true pioneers and legends in their crafts," said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement. "The Board is proud to honor their extraordinary achievements, and we look forward to celebrating with them at the Governors Awards in November."



The Governors Awards will take place on November 12.







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