Action film hero Jackie Chan put some smiles on sick kids faces yesterday and proved once and for all that he's larger than life.

Actually, larger than a 41/2-foot replica of the CN Tower, where he held a press conference, but his charity event will be of much grander scale.

Chan, the star of hits such as Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx, hopes to pack the SkyDome with his charity show, "Knight of the Dragon: Jackie Chan, Live in Person" on Sunday, Nov. 18.

All proceeds from the show will go to the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care.

Key to the city

Mayor Mel Lastman will proclaim Jackie Chan Day and give Chan a key to the city.

"The key of the city is not important for me. You give to me, I'm happy, you don't give to me, I do the same thing (for charity)," he said.

The event, featuring Chan's stunts, guests, and outtakes from his films, is expected to generate up to half a million dollars.

Chan is no stranger to poverty. He was born into a poor family in Hong Kong .

"When I was young, a lot of people helped me. I have to help the society back," he said.

Despite his tight schedule, Chan builds in time for charity work wherever he goes.

Chan was the star of a charity event in Las Vegas last year, and is planning events in Russia, Africa and Ireland. He performs less formal acts of generosity, such as giving out jackets to the homeless of Hong Kong on a snowy night.

Chan is in Toronto shooting the film Tuxedo.


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