Donnie Yen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

111

Gender

Male

Birthday

1963-07-27 (62 years old)

Place of Birth

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Donnie Yen

Biography

Donnie Yen Chi-tan is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. He is the recipient of various accolades, including three Golden Horse Awards and five Hong Kong Film Awards. He is best known for portraying Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the Ip Man film series, namely Ip Man (2008), Ip Man 2 (2010), Ip Man 3 (2015), and Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019). He also served as co-producer for the spin-off Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018). Born in Guangdong, Yen developed an interest in martial arts at a young age, and began experimenting with various styles, including tai chi and other traditional Chinese martial arts. At age 18, he auditioned for action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping in Hong Kong. He landed his first starring role in the 1984 Hong Kong martial arts action film Drunken Tai Chi. He made his breakthrough role as the antagonist General Nap-lan in Once Upon a Time in China II (1992), opposite Jet Li's character. He appeared in several other Hong Kong kung fu films, including Iron Monkey (1993) and Wing Chun (1994). In 1997, he starred in his directorial debut film Legend of the Wolf. Yen made his American debut in Highlander: Endgame (2000), followed by a cameo in Blade II (2002). He went on to appear in the American films Shanghai Knights (2003), Rogue One (2016), XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017), Mulan (2020), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). He has continued to be active in Hong Kong cinema, appearing in the well-received films Hero (2002), SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005), 14 Blades (2010), Wu Xia (2011), Kung Fu Jungle (2014), Chasing the Dragon (2017), Enter the Fat Dragon (2020), Raging Fire (2021), and The Prosecutor (2024), among others. In television, Yen portrayed fictional character Chen Zhen in the television series Fist of Fury (1995); he reprised the role in the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen. For portraying Ip Man in the Ip Man film series (2008-2019), Yen is credited by many for contributing to the popularisation of Wing Chun in China. Alongside Kung fu, particularly Wing Chun, Yen is also known for incorporating mixed martial arts (MMA) elements into his action choreography. Aside from his acting, in 1997, he established his own production company, Bullet Films, which choreographed the action for Western blockbusters like Blade II (2002) and Stormbreaker (2006).

Known For

  • Running Man

    Running Man

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • John Wick: Chapter 4

    John Wick: Chapter 4

  • xXx: Return of Xander Cage

    xXx: Return of Xander Cage

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

  • Sakra

    Sakra

  • 鲁豫有约一日行

    鲁豫有约一日行

  • Mulan

    Mulan

  • Big Brother

    Big Brother

  • Blade II

    Blade II

  • Chef Nic

    Chef Nic

  • Once Upon a Time in China II

    Once Upon a Time in China II

  • Roast

    Roast

  • The Prosecutor

    The Prosecutor

  • SPL: Kill Zone

    SPL: Kill Zone

  • Be My Guest

    Be My Guest

  • Seven Swords

    Seven Swords

  • The Monkey King

    The Monkey King

  • Bodyguards and Assassins

    Bodyguards and Assassins

  • The Twins Effect II

    The Twins Effect II

  • Hero

    Hero

  • 14 Blades

    14 Blades

  • Dragon Tiger Gate

    Dragon Tiger Gate

  • Flash Point

    Flash Point

  • The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'

    The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'

  • Ip Man

    Ip Man

  • Tiger Cage II

    Tiger Cage II

  • Kung Fu Jungle

    Kung Fu Jungle

  • Come Back Home

    Come Back Home

  • Raging Fire

    Raging Fire

  • The Saint of Gamblers

    The Saint of Gamblers

  • You are the Best

    You are the Best

  • New Kung Fu Cult Master

    New Kung Fu Cult Master

  • Painted Skin

    Painted Skin

  • Dragon

    Dragon

  • City of Darkness

    City of Darkness

  • Iron Monkey

    Iron Monkey

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

  • Special ID

    Special ID

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2011

    All's Well, Ends Well 2011

  • Fist of Fury

    Fist of Fury

  • Iceman

    Iceman

  • Shanghai Knights

    Shanghai Knights

  • 'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece

    'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece

  • Mismatched Couples

    Mismatched Couples

  • The Lost Bladesman

    The Lost Bladesman

  • Club Sparkle

    Club Sparkle

  • The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up

    The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up

  • Chasing the Dragon

    Chasing the Dragon

  • The Founding of a Republic

    The Founding of a Republic

  • Dragon Inn

    Dragon Inn

  • Circus Kids

    Circus Kids

  • Cheetah on Fire

    Cheetah on Fire

  • High Voltage

    High Voltage

  • Love on the Rocks

    Love on the Rocks

  • All's Well, Ends Well

    All's Well, Ends Well

  • Crystal Hunt

    Crystal Hunt

  • Drunken Tai Chi

    Drunken Tai Chi

  • Iron Monkey 2

    Iron Monkey 2

  • Butterfly and Sword

    Butterfly and Sword

  • Together

    Together

  • Highlander: Endgame

    Highlander: Endgame

  • Enter the Fat Dragon

    Enter the Fat Dragon

  • The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

    The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

  • The Last Conflict

    The Last Conflict

  • Kung Fu Stuntmen

    Kung Fu Stuntmen

  • Tiger Cage

    Tiger Cage

  • Wing Chun

    Wing Chun

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2009

    All's Well, Ends Well 2009

  • Ballistic Kiss

    Ballistic Kiss

  • Satan Returns

    Satan Returns

  • The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

    The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

  • Ip Man 3

    Ip Man 3

  • 义侠勇闯上海滩

    义侠勇闯上海滩

  • Black Rose II

    Black Rose II

  • Flying Squads

    Flying Squads

  • 2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala

    2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala

  • Ip Man 4: The Finale

    Ip Man 4: The Finale

  • An Inspector Calls

    An Inspector Calls

  • Bravo Youngsters!

    Bravo Youngsters!

  • Guardians of Martial Arts

    Guardians of Martial Arts

  • Ip Man 5

    Ip Man 5

  • Heroes Among Heroes

    Heroes Among Heroes

  • In the Line of Duty 4

    In the Line of Duty 4

  • Shanghai Affairs

    Shanghai Affairs

  • The Crime File

    The Crime File

  • A New Life

    A New Life

  • Golden Chickensss

    Golden Chickensss

  • The Kung Fu Master

    The Kung Fu Master

  • Crush Over

    Crush Over

  • Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen

    Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen

  • An Empress and the Warriors

    An Empress and the Warriors

  • File Noir

    File Noir

  • Fist of Fury

    Fist of Fury

  • How Bruce Lee Changed the World

    How Bruce Lee Changed the World

  • Iceman: The Time Traveler

    Iceman: The Time Traveler

  • Kung Fu

    Kung Fu

  • Cinema of Vengeance

    Cinema of Vengeance

  • New Kung Fu Cult Master 2

    New Kung Fu Cult Master 2

  • Legend of the Wolf

    Legend of the Wolf

  • Hong Kong Superstars

    Hong Kong Superstars

  • Armor Hero Star Ray

    Armor Hero Star Ray

  • From the World of John Wick: Caine

    From the World of John Wick: Caine

  • Ip Man 2

    Ip Man 2

  • 2次重塑

    2次重塑

  • The Kung Fu Master

    The Kung Fu Master

  • Revenge of the Kung Fu Master

    Revenge of the Kung Fu Master

  • Flash Point: Resurgence

    Flash Point: Resurgence

  • Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

    Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

  • Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge

    Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge