Jackie Chan awarded honorary Oscar

Image copyrightEPA

Image captionDespite his popular success, Mr Chan has never won an Oscar before

Action movie star, writer, director and martial artist Jackie Chan is to be given an honorary Oscar for his "extraordinary achievements" in film.

The US film academy also voted to give the awards to editor Anne Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary maker Frederick Wiseman.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs described the four as "true pioneers and legends in their crafts".

Chan, 62, starred in dozens of martial arts films in his native Hong Kong.

He went on to huge international success with hits like Rumble in the Bronx, the Rush Hour franchise, and the animation film Kung Fu Panda.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionThe Rush Hour series was a massive global hit

The other three honorary winners have all had long careers in film. 

Anne Coates spent more than 60 years in movie editing, winning an Oscar for her work on Lawrence of Arabia; Lynn Stalmaster was involved with more than 200 feature films, including The Graduate and Deliverance; and Frederick Wiseman has made almost a film a year since 1967.

Their statuettes will be presented at the Governors Awards ceremony in November.