1963-07-27 ( 61 years old ) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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).
Movies
Wick Is Pain
2025-05-08
The Prosecutor
2024-12-08
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023-03-22
Sakra
2023-01-16
Come Back Home
2022-10-03
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
2022-02-12
New Kung Fu Cult Master
2022-01-28
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021-08-28
Raging Fire
2021-07-28
Mulan
2020-09-04
Enter the Fat Dragon
2020-01-23
Ip Man 4: The Finale
2019-12-19
Iceman: The Time Traveler
2018-11-02
Big Brother
2018-08-16
Guardians of Martial Arts
2017-11-11
Chasing the Dragon
2017-09-28
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
2017-01-13
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2016-12-14
Ip Man 3
2015-12-24
An Inspector Calls
2015-02-19
Kung Fu Jungle
2014-10-31
Iceman
2014-04-17
Golden Chickensss
2014-01-30
The Monkey King
2014-01-09
Special ID
2013-10-17
Together
2013-02-13
All's Well, Ends Well
2012-01-19
Dragon
2011-07-04
The Lost Bladesman
2011-04-28
All's Well, Ends Well 2011
2011-02-02
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
2010-09-01
Ip Man 2
2010-04-29
14 Blades
2010-02-04
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009-12-18
The Founding of a Republic
2009-09-17
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009-05-17
All's Well, Ends Well 2009
2009-01-22
Ip Man
2008-12-12
Painted Skin
2008-09-25
An Empress and the Warriors
2008-02-09
Flash Point
2007-07-26
Dragon Tiger Gate
2006-07-27
SPL: Kill Zone
2005-11-18
Seven Swords
2005-07-25
The Twins Effect II
2004-08-12
Love on the Rocks
2004-04-08
Shanghai Knights
2003-02-06
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
2002-09-03
The Kung Fu Master
2002-07-30
Hero
2002-07-22
Fist of Fury
2002-04-30
Blade II
2002-03-22
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
2001-11-26
Hong Kong Superstars
2001-01-01
Highlander: Endgame
2000-09-01
City of Darkness
1999-01-01
Shanghai Affairs
1998-07-03
Ballistic Kiss
1998-03-21
Legend of the Wolf
1997-06-14
Black Rose II
1997-03-01
Satan Returns
1996-05-17
Iron Monkey 2
1996-04-24
The Saint of Gamblers
1995-06-28
High Voltage
1995-01-14
Circus Kids
1994-10-09
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
1994-09-23
Wing Chun
1994-03-24
Cinema of Vengeance
1994-01-01
Heroes Among Heroes
1993-11-11
Iron Monkey
1993-09-03
Butterfly and Sword
1993-01-16
Dragon Inn
1992-08-22
Once Upon a Time in China II
1992-04-16
Crystal Hunt
1992-01-19
Cheetah on Fire
1992-01-01
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
1991-06-07
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
1991-04-01
Tiger Cage II
1990-08-11
In the Line of Duty 4
1989-07-21
Tiger Cage
1988-07-28
The Last Conflict
1988-01-01
Mismatched Couples
1985-04-03
Drunken Tai Chi
1984-05-31
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