Bradley James Allan (14 February 1973 – 7 August 2021) was an Australian martial artist, action choreographer, actor, and stunt performer. He worked in the Hong Kong film industry as a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team and choreographed action scenes in Hollywood films. He is best known for his role as Alan on Gorgeous (1999).

Brad Allan
Born
Bradley James Allan

(1973-02-14)14 February 1973
Melbourne, Australia
Died7 August 2021(2021-08-07) (aged 48)
Other namesBai-Hu (White Tiger)
Bradley Allan
Occupation(s)Action choreographer, actor, stuntman, assistant director, choreographer, stunt co-ordinator, martial artist
Years active1994–2021
Height1.63 m / 5ft 4in
Awards1 won (World Stunt Awards)
3 nominated (Screen Actors Guild Awards)

Biography

edit

Brad Allan began boxing and karate training around age 10. He studied Wushu and gymnastics from age 14, spending two years learning under Beijing Wushu Team members Liang Chang-xing and Tang Lai-wei, compatriots of actor Jet Li.[1] He was also trained in a number of other martial arts including karate, aikido, hapkido, taekwondo, Wing Chun, boxing, and kickboxing. He later spent time at the Shanghai Institute of Sport and learned Mandarin. In 1993, he made his first film appearance in the unofficial sequel film Drunken Master III. He briefly joined the Australian stunt team New Generation Stunts.[citation needed]

He was a member of the Australian team at the fourth World Wushu Championships in Rome, in November 1997.[2] Later that year, he heard Jackie Chan was filming Mr. Nice Guy in Melbourne and knew some of the Australian crew. He was invited to demonstrate his martial arts style for action film director Cho Wing. Allan made a brief appearance in the film and was signed for a role in Chan's next Hong Kong film, Who Am I? (1998), where he would double for Ron Smoorenburg and Michelle Ferre. He was subsequently invited to join Chan's stunt team, 'Sing ga ban', as their first non-Asian member.[1] Allan progressed through the stunt team, and ultimately became team leader.

In the 2000s, in addition to being a member of Chan's stunt team, Allan gained action choreography/direction roles in major Hollywood films including The Chronicles of Riddick and Hellboy II: The Golden Army.[3]

In 2010, Allan teamed up with British director Edgar Wright for the making of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World as second unit director. Allan and his team again teamed up with Wright in 2011 and 2012 for Cuban Fury and The World's End, respectively.[citation needed]

On 7 August 2021, Allan died of an apparent heart attack[4] at the age of 48. News of his death was first announced by Chan on social media.[5] Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, released in September 2021, is dedicated to Allan.[6] His final film, Argylle, released in February 2024, pays tribute to him.[7]

Filmography

edit

Television and other work

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Raw FM Jack ABC TV series (Australian TV)
Good Guys/Bad Guys Driver Le Mesurier Films (Australian TV)
1999 Noah's Ark Stuntman and stuntdouble
Thunderstone Stuntdouble TV series
2000 Saturday Night Live Opening monologue thug Episode: "Jackie Chan/Kid Rock"
Uncredited
2002 Mutant X Computer sparring partner Episode: "Interface"
Uncredited
2011 Our Deal Stunt coordinator Music video director: Drew Barrymore

Films

edit
Year Title Director Role Notes
1994 Drunken Master III Lau Kar-leung Foreigner on bus Uncredited
1997 Mr. Nice Guy Sammo Hung Stunt performer Uncredited
1998 Who Am I? Jackie Chan
Benny Chan
as Bradley Allan
Hot War Jingle Ma Uncredited
1999 Gorgeous Vincent Kok as Bradley Allan
Gen-X Cops Benny Chan
Jackie Chan: My Stunts Jackie Chan
2000 Shanghai Noon Tom Dey Stunt performer
Assistant fight choreographer
2001 The Accidental Spy Teddy Chan Stunt performer
Stunt co-ordinator
as Bradley James Allen
Rush Hour 2 Brett Ratner Stunt performer as Bradley James Allan
2002 The Tuxedo Kevin Donovan Stunt performer
2003 Shanghai Knights David Dobkin Stunt performer
Action choreographer
Uncredited (S.P.)
The Medallion Gordon Chan Stunt performer as Bradley James Allan
Peter Pan P.J. Hogan Fight co-ordinator
2004 New Police Story Benny Chan Stunt choreographer
The Chronicles of Riddick David Twohy Stunt co-ordinator
2005 The Pacifier Adam Shankman Stunt performer
Fight choreographer
Uncredited (S.P.)
2006 Eragon Stefen Fangmeier Stunt rigger
2007 Rush Hour 3 Brett Ratner Stunt co-ordinator as Bradley James Allan
2008 Hellboy II: The Golden Army Guillermo del Toro Action director
Stunt co-ordinator
Bedtime Stories Adam Shankman Action choreographer
2009 Ninja Assassin James McTeigue Stunt performer
A Christmas Carol Robert Zemeckis Stunts
Avatar James Cameron Stunts Uncredited
2010 Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief Chris Columbus Stunts Uncredited
Kick-Ass Matthew Vaughn Stunt co-ordinator
A Nightmare on Elm Street Samuel Bayer Fight choreographer
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Edgar Wright Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
2011 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
Mars Needs Moms Simon Wells Stunts
I Am Number Four D.J. Caruso Stunt co-ordinator
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn Steven Spielberg Stunts Uncredited
2012 Chinese Zodiac Jackie Chan Action co-ordinator
2013 Pacific Rim Guillermo del Toro Action designer
The World's End Edgar Wright Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
Iceman Ariel Vromen Action co-ordinator
2014 Cuban Fury James Griffiths Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
Wolves David Hayter
2015 Kingsman: The Secret Service Matthew Vaughn
Little Boy Alejandro Gómez Monteverde Stunt co-ordinator
Insidious: Chapter 3 Leigh Whannell Stunts
Sinister 2 Ciaran Foy Stunts
2017 Wonder Woman Patty Jenkins Stunts
Kingsman: The Golden Circle Matthew Vaughn Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Ron Howard
2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Destin Daniel Cretton Supervising Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
Posthumous release
The King's Man Matthew Vaughn Stunt co-ordinator
Second unit director
Posthumous release
2024 Argylle Stunt co-ordinator Posthumous release; Final film

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Brad Allan". Jackie Chan Dragon's Spirit (France). Archived from the original on 14 November 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Brad Allan". Hong Kong Action (France). Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  3. ^ "Brad Allan heats up 'Hellboy 2'". Kung Fu Cinema. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  4. ^ Wu, Daniel (8 August 2021). "Instagram". Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  5. ^ Noble, Alex (7 August 2021). "Brad Allan, Stuntman and Jackie Chan Protege, Dies at 48". TheWrap. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  6. ^ Sirikul, Laura (23 August 2021). "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Review". Empire. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ Alam, Morshed (6 March 2024). "Brad Allan Argylle Tribute Explained: What Does Brad Allan Have to Do With the Argylle Movie?". Thought Might. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
edit