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Donnie Yen

Acting 62 years old Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ★ 5.3
Born: July 27, 1963

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).

External Links

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Known For

John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wick: Chapter 4 Caine 2023
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
xXx: Return of Xander Cage Xiang 2017
Sakra
Sakra Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng 2023
Hero
Hero Sky 2002
Big Brother
Big Brother Henry Chen Xia 2018

Jimmy's Seen (1)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Chirrut Imwe 2016

Filmography

Acting Credits (113)

You are the Best
You are the Best Alex Yang 2025
Armor Hero Star Ray
Armor Hero Star Ray General Qiu Bai 2024
The Prosecutor
The Prosecutor Fok Chi Ho 2024
Crush Over
Crush Over 2023
John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wick: Chapter 4 Caine 2023
Sakra
Sakra Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng 2023
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins Sun Wukong / Monkey King 2022
Polar Rescue
Polar Rescue A De 2022
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2 Zhang Sanfeng 2022
New Kung Fu Cult Master
New Kung Fu Cult Master Zhang Sanfeng 2022
Kung Fu Stuntmen
Kung Fu Stuntmen 2021
Raging Fire
Raging Fire Bong 2021
2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala
2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala 2021
Bravo Youngsters!
Bravo Youngsters! 2020
Mulan
Mulan Commander Tung 2020
2次重塑
2次重塑 2020
Enter the Fat Dragon
Enter the Fat Dragon Fallon Zhu 2020
Ip Man 4: The Finale
Ip Man 4: The Finale Ip Man 2019
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 2018
Iceman: The Time Traveler
Iceman: The Time Traveler Ying 2018
Big Brother
Big Brother Henry Chen Xia 2018
Guardians of Martial Arts
Guardians of Martial Arts Master Yen 2017
Chasing the Dragon
Chasing the Dragon Crippled Ho 2017
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Self 2017
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
xXx: Return of Xander Cage Xiang 2017
Roast
Roast 2017
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Chirrut Imwe 2016
鲁豫有约一日行
鲁豫有约一日行 2016
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Silent Wolf 2016
Ip Man 3
Ip Man 3 Ip Man 2015
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls Band Members 2015
Kung Fu Jungle
Kung Fu Jungle Hahou Mo 2014
Chef Nic
Chef Nic 2014
Iceman
Iceman Ying 2014
Golden Chickensss
Golden Chickensss Yip Man 2014
The Monkey King
The Monkey King Sun Wukong / Monkey King 2014
Special ID
Special ID Dragon Chan 2013
Together
Together Chan Kwok-Wah 2013
All's Well, Ends Well
All's Well, Ends Well Carl Tam 2012
Dragon
Dragon Liu Jinxi / Tang Long 2011
The Lost Bladesman
The Lost Bladesman Guan Yunchang 2011
All's Well, End's Well 2011
All's Well, End's Well 2011 Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng 2011
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen Chen Zhen 2010
Running Man
Running Man 2010
Ip Man 2
Ip Man 2 Ip Man 2010
14 Blades
14 Blades Qinglong 2010
Bodyguards and Assassins
Bodyguards and Assassins Sum Chung-Yang 2009
The Founding of a Republic
The Founding of a Republic Tian Han 2009
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
How Bruce Lee Changed the World Self 2009
All's Well, End's Well 2009
All's Well, End's Well 2009 Wedding Guest (cameo) 2009
Club Sparkle
Club Sparkle 2009
Ip Man
Ip Man Yip Man 2008
Painted Skin
Painted Skin Pang Yong 2008
An Empress and the Warriors
An Empress and the Warriors General Muyong Xuehu 2008
Flash Point
Flash Point Ma 2007
Dragon Tiger Gate
Dragon Tiger Gate Tiger Wong 2006
Be My Guest
Be My Guest 2006
SPL: Kill Zone
SPL: Kill Zone Inspector Ma Kwun 2005
Seven Swords
Seven Swords Chu Zhaonan 2005
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece Self 2004
The Twins Effect II
The Twins Effect II General Lone 2004
Love on the Rocks
Love on the Rocks Victor Tsui 2004
Shanghai Knights
Shanghai Knights Wu Chow 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self - Guest 2003
Hero
Hero Sky 2002
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II' Self 2002
The Kung Fu Master
The Kung Fu Master Hung Hei-Kwun 2002
Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury Chen-Jun 2002
Blade II
Blade II Snowman 2002
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge Chen Zhen 2001
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon' 2001
Hong Kong Superstars
Hong Kong Superstars Self 2001
Highlander: Endgame
Highlander: Endgame Jin Ke 2000
City of Darkness
City of Darkness Ozone 1999
Shanghai Affairs
Shanghai Affairs Tong Shan 1998
Ballistic Kiss
Ballistic Kiss Cat Lee 1998
Legend of the Wolf
Legend of the Wolf Fung Man-hin 1997
Black Rose II
Black Rose II Boxing School Owner 1997
义侠勇闯上海滩
义侠勇闯上海滩 唐山 1997
Satan Returns
Satan Returns Nam 1996
Iron Monkey 2
Iron Monkey 2 Iron Monkey 1996
Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury 陈真 1995
The Saint of Gamblers
The Saint of Gamblers Lung Chat 1995
High Voltage
High Voltage Chiang Ho-Wa 1995
Circus Kids
Circus Kids Danton Lee 1994
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master Hung-Hei Kwun 1994
The Kung Fu Master
The Kung Fu Master Hung Hei-gun 1994
Wing Chun
Wing Chun Leung Pok To 1994
Cinema of Vengeance
Cinema of Vengeance Self (uncredited) 1994
Heroes Among Heroes
Heroes Among Heroes So Chan 1993
Iron Monkey
Iron Monkey Wong Kei-ying 1993
Butterfly and Sword
Butterfly and Sword Yip Cheung 1993
New Dragon Gate Inn
New Dragon Gate Inn Eunuch Tso Siu Yan 1992
Once Upon a Time in China II
Once Upon a Time in China II Commander Lan 1992
Crystal Hunt
Crystal Hunt Leung / Brett Chan 1992
Cheetah on Fire
Cheetah on Fire Ronnie 1992
A New Life
A New Life 1991
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead Shiang Chin-Fei 1991
The Crime File
The Crime File 1991
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991 1991
Tiger Cage II
Tiger Cage II Dragon Yau 1990
Flying Squads
Flying Squads Cheung Ho-nam 1989
In the Line of Duty 4
In the Line of Duty 4 Captain Donnie Yan 1989
File Noir
File Noir 1989
Tiger Cage
Tiger Cage Terry 1988
The Last Conflict
The Last Conflict Dickson Kwan 1988
Mismatched Couples
Mismatched Couples Eddie 1985
Drunken Tai Chi
Drunken Tai Chi Chan Chuen Chung 1984
The Oscars
The Oscars Self 1953
Ip Man 5
Ip Man 5 Ip Man
Flash Point: Resurgence
Flash Point: Resurgence Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
Kung Fu
Kung Fu
From the World of John Wick: Caine
From the World of John Wick: Caine Caine

Directing Credits (19)

Writing Credits (2)

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