Born in Sydenham, England, Jason Statham was one of the top divers on the British team; eventually placing 12th in the world. While training at the famed Crystal Palace National Sport Center in London, film crews and photographers pursued him as new talent and he eventually met the executive producer of the film “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998). Statham then met with director, Guy Ritchie, who gave him his first role. He went on to work with Ritchie again in “Snatch” (2000), starring opposite Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro.
Statham was cast by Luc Besson in the title role of ‘Frank Martin’ in “The Transporter” (2002). He starred as ‘Handsome Rob’ in the summer blockbuster remake of “The Italian Job” (2003), and as the adrenaline-compromised action hero of “Crank” (2006). Statham returned as ‘Frank Martin’ in “Transporter 2” (2006) and “Transporter 3” (2008), and also starred in Roger Donaldson's “The Bank Job” (2008), the critically acclaimed true story of the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery, and in the Universal Pictures remake of “Death Race” (2008).
He next reprised the role of ‘Chev Chelios’ in “Crank 2: High Voltage” (2009) and then teamed up with some of the world's biggest fellow action stars for “Sylvester Stallone's” “The Expendables” (2010), followed by the remake of “The Mechanic” (2011), which originally starred Charles Bronson as the profession hit man ‘Arthur Bishop.’ Statham filled the shoes of Ken Bruen's creation of ‘British Detective Brant’ in the adaptation of the UK crime thriller “Blitz” (2011), Statham was seen in “Killer Elite” (2011) based on the true story written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and “Safe” (2012)” directed by Boaz Yakin and produced by Lawrence Bender.
Millennium Films