Donnie Yen
Biography
Donnie Yen Chi-tan (Chinese: 甄子丹; Jyutping: jan1 zi2 daan1; pinyin: Zhēn Zǐdān; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. His accolades include 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 a co-producer of 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), Flash Point (2007), 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 elements of mixed martial arts (MMA) 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). Description above from the Wikipedia article Donnie Yen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
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Filmography
Running Man
· 2010
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest · 2003
John Wick: Chapter 4
as Caine · 2023
The Oscars
as Self · 1953
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
as Xiang · 2017
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
as Chirrut Imwe · 2016
鲁豫有约一日行
· 2016
Hero
as Sky · 2002
Blade II
as Snowman · 2002
Be My Guest
· 2006
Roast
· 2017
Mulan
as Commander Tung · 2020
Chef Nic
· 2014
Shanghai Knights
as Wu Chow · 2003
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
· 2018
Fist of Fury
as 陈真 · 1995
The Prosecutor
as Fok Chi Ho · 2024
Sakra
as Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng · 2023
Club Sparkle
· 2009
Raging Fire
as Bong · 2021
Big Brother
as Henry Chen Xia · 2018
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
as Silent Wolf · 2016
Highlander: Endgame
as Jin Ke · 2000
The Monkey King
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King · 2014
Kung Fu Jungle
as Hahou Mo · 2014
Once Upon a Time in China II
as Commander Lan · 1992
SPL: Kill Zone
as Inspector Ma Kwun · 2005
14 Blades
as Qinglong · 2010
Ip Man 3
as Ip Man · 2015
The Kung Fu Master
as Hung Hei-gun · 1994
Dragon
as Liu Jinxi / Tang Long · 2011
The Twins Effect II
as General Lone · 2004
Ip Man
as Yip Man · 2008
Flash Point
as Ma · 2007
Seven Swords
as Chu Zhaonan · 2005
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
as Chen Zhen · 2010
Bodyguards and Assassins
as Shum Chung Yang · 2009
The Founding of a Republic
as Tian Han · 2009
Flying Squads
as Cheung Ho-nam · 1989
Iron Monkey
as Wong Kei-ying · 1993
Dragon Tiger Gate
as Dragon Wong · 2006
Enter the Fat Dragon
as Fallon Zhu · 2020
Special ID
as Dragon Chan · 2013
In the Line of Duty 4
as Captain Donnie Yan · 1989
Crush Over
· 2023
Iceman
as Ying · 2014
Ip Man 4: The Finale
as Ip Man · 2019
Wing Chun
as Leung Pok To · 1994
An Empress and the Warriors
as General Muyong Xuehu · 2008
Tiger Cage II
as Dragon Yau · 1990
New Dragon Gate Inn
as Eunuch Tso Siu Yan · 1992
Chasing the Dragon
as Crippled Ho · 2017
New Kung Fu Cult Master
as Zhang Sanfeng · 2022
Caine
as Caine
The Crime File
· 1991
File Noir
· 1989
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
as Zhang Sanfeng · 2022
The Lost Bladesman
as Guan Yunchang · 2011
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
as Self · 2009
Painted Skin
as Pang Yong · 2008
Kung Fu Stuntmen
· 2021
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
as Self · 2002
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King · 2022
Bravo Youngsters!
· 2020
The Saint of Gamblers
as Lung Chat · 1995
A New Life
· 1991
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
as Self · 2017
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
as Shiang Chin-Fei · 1991
Tiger Cage
as Terry · 1988
You are the Best
as Alex Yang · 2025
Guardians of Martial Arts
as Master Yen · 2017
Wu Xia Pian - Le Festin du Tigre Chinois
as Self · 2013
All's Well, End's Well 2011
as Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng · 2011
All's Well, End's Well 2009
as Wedding Guest (cameo) · 2009
Legend of the Wolf
as Fung Man-hin · 1997
All's Well, Ends Well
as Carl Tam · 2012
Butterfly and Sword
as Yip Cheung · 1993
Satan Returns
as Nam · 1996
Crystal Hunt
as Leung / Brett Chan · 1992
An Inspector Calls
as Band Members · 2015
Cinema of Vengeance
as Self (uncredited) · 1994
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
· 2001
Golden Chickensss
as Yip Man · 2014
Together
as Chan Kwok-Wah · 2013
Polar Rescue
as A De · 2022
Ballistic Kiss
as Cat Lee · 1998
Heroes Among Heroes
as So Chan · 1993
Iron Monkey 2
as Iron Monkey · 1996
Cheetah on Fire
as Ronnie · 1992
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
as Chen Zhen · 2001
The Last Conflict
as Dickson Kwan · 1988
High Voltage
as Chiang Ho-Wa · 1995
Circus Kids
as Danton Lee · 1994
Mismatched Couples
as Eddie · 1985
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
as Self · 2004
City of Darkness
as Ozone · 1999
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
as Hung-Hei Kwun · 1994
Iceman: The Time Traveler
as Ying · 2018
Drunken Tai Chi
as Chan Chuen Chung · 1984
Hong Kong Superstars
as Self · 2001
Love on the Rocks
as Victor Tsui · 2004
2次重塑
· 2020
Black Rose II
as Boxing School Owner · 1997
Shanghai Affairs
as Tong Shan · 1998
Kung Fu
Fist of Fury
as Chen-Jun · 2002
Ip Man 5
as Ip Man
The Kung Fu Master
as Hung Hei-Kwun · 2002
Ip Man 2
as Ip Man · 2010
义侠勇闯上海滩
as 唐山 · 1997
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
· 1991
Flash Point: Resurgence
as Det. Sgt. Ma Jun