Jimmy Lin: Taiwanese prince who once had a near-death experience, at 50 he looks like an 18 year old

Jimmy Lin is known by the nickname "Little Tornado" and is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Taiwan in the 90s, thanks to his rare versatility in the Chinese entertainment industry. How is his life now?

From "Little Whirlwind" to Four Heavenly Kings: The Peak Years

Jimmy Lin was born on October 15, 1974. His talent blossomed early when he was only 17 years old, officially entering the entertainment industry in 1991. Just one year later, his debut music album "Not Every Long Song Have Sweet Memories" was released, creating a fever, making Jimmy Lin's name shine.

With his handsome appearance, dynamic style and attractive voice, he quickly received the nickname "Little Whirlwind" and together with Ngo Ky Long, Su Huu Bang and Kim Thanh Vu became one of the 4 most famous "Little Heavenly Kings" in Taiwan. This was his golden age, laying a solid foundation for his multi-disciplinary career later on.

During the early years of his singing career, Jimmy Lin released a total of 13 solo and group albums, including many special editions, creating a huge musical legacy. Along with music, he also ventured into the film and television industry, participating in many blockbuster films.

His natural acting ability and irresistible charm have helped him become the face of many big brands. During this time, Jimmy Lin has reaped countless awards, big and small, affirming his position as an all-round star.

However, at the peak of his career, Jimmy Lin made a surprising decision. In 1994, he was ordered to join the army. In October of the same year, he put aside all the limelight to fulfill his military service. His two-year absence from the entertainment industry did not diminish his appeal.

Jimmy Lin made a strong comeback in 1996. He later founded his own company, Jimmy Creative, and went on to release five albums under the label Forward, the most notable of which was Scarecrow (1999). After the release of Going For A Walk (2000), he began to focus more on television, although he continued to make regular appearances in music.

Passion for speed and impressive business journey

Besides his illustrious entertainment career, Jimmy Lin also cherished another big dream: to become a professional race car driver. In 1997, he decided to make that dream come true. His passion for speed once pushed him to the brink of death.

During a race that year, Jimmy Lin had a serious accident and almost lost his life. The actor's car caught fire just seconds after he managed to escape. This horrifying incident did not discourage him, but instead fueled his will to conquer speed and become one of the top 10 racers in China.

In 2005, Jimmy Lin signed a contract with Hong He – China’s leading racing company – and was trained by renowned coach Ma Jun Kun. He eventually achieved his dream of becoming a professional Formula 1 racer, a remarkable achievement that few artists can achieve.

In addition to his entertainment and racing careers, Jimmy Lin has also shown his keen business acumen. The actor founded his own fashion label, "JR" (Jimmy Racing), which sells a wide range of products from sunglasses to swimwear. He is also a socially responsible person.

Jimmy Lin has been actively involved in charity work, serving as an ambassador for various youth and government campaigns in Taiwan and elsewhere. On October 17, 2003, the San Francisco State Government honored him with the "International Outstanding Youth Award" – a historic achievement as he was the first Chinese person in history to receive this award.

A near-fatal traffic accident and the extraordinary journey of recovery

Jimmy Lin's seemingly perfect life suddenly faced its biggest challenge on July 22, 2022. He and his son were involved in a horrific traffic accident in Taiwan. At around 11am (China time), the actor's expensive car crashed into an electric pole and immediately caught fire. Fortunately, people nearby quickly arrived to rescue him and his son, who were both out of the car before the fire broke out.

The collision left Jimmy Lin with serious injuries. Doctors at Chang Geng Hospital (China) said he had to undergo emergency surgery to treat his bone and joint injuries and especially his traumatic brain injury, in order to save his life. After his health gradually stabilized, he also had to face facial reconstruction surgery - a big challenge for an artist. The recovery process was long and arduous, requiring perseverance and extraordinary willpower.

A return full of energy and new plans

Three years after the traffic accident, Jimmy Lin surprised the public with his impressive comeback and incredibly youthful appearance, almost unchanged from when he first started his career, even though he was over 40 years old. He demonstrated extraordinary willpower and incredible recovery ability.

In March 2025, Jimmy Lin was invited to attend the 50th anniversary event of the Huagang High School of the Arts, where he studied. This was a great honor as he was also awarded the "Huagang Art Star" award.

However, just one day before the event, he was forced to cancel his attendance due to acute tonsillitis accompanied by a high fever of nearly 39 degrees Celsius. The male artist began to have severe sore throat symptoms, impaired speech ability and almost completely lost his voice. Even eating or drinking water caused pain. Despite seeing 4 different doctors, his health condition showed no signs of improvement.

Jimmy Lin expressed his infinite regret at not being able to attend this meaningful event: "I have prepared very carefully and am looking forward to this event because it is a very meaningful milestone. But due to health conditions, I have to make an appointment with everyone another time."

Health is the top priority, but Jimmy Lin also constantly monitors and has new artistic projects. In 2025, he accepted to be a judge for a major program called " Sing! Asia ", with Phuong My Chi from Vietnam participating. This is an opportunity for him and other big names to give professional assessments, contributing to finding and nurturing new musical talents in Asia.

Jimmy Lin's appearance caused a stir, he looks exactly like his father, he wins this point! Thảo Mai07:33:01 26/06/2025After completing his role as an advisor judge on the show Sing! Asia, which featured Phuong My Chi, actor Jimmy Lin continued to hold a concert in Malaysia. However, the name that captured all the attention was not him, but the boy...