Chartrand has followed an unusual path into his film career. He has been a prominent figure in the world of action films since 1989, when he transitioned from martial arts competitor and instructor into the world of cinema. Mentored through the martial arts by legendary Master Fumio Demura, he already had a head start in the action genre. From his early years as a stunt performer he worked with and was influenced by some of Hollywood's biggest action stars, such as Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal, and Chuck Norris.