Donnie Yen
Acting • Born 1963-07-27
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).
Filmography
113 credits
Hero
Movie • 2002
Sky
The Twins Effect II
Movie • 2004
General Lone
Once Upon a Time in China II
Movie • 1992
Commander Lan
Seven Swords
Movie • 2005
Chu Zhaonan
Bodyguards and Assassins
Movie • 2009
Sum Chung-Yang
Shanghai Knights
Movie • 2003
Wu Chow
Highlander: Endgame
Movie • 2000
Jin Ke
Drunken Tai Chi
Movie • 1984
Chan Chuen Chung
Wing Chun
Movie • 1994
Leung Pok To
Legend of the Wolf
Movie • 1997
Fung Man-hin
14 Blades
Movie • 2010
Qinglong
SPL: Kill Zone
Movie • 2005
Inspector Ma Kwun
Butterfly and Sword
Movie • 1993
Yip Cheung
New Dragon Gate Inn
Movie • 1992
Eunuch Tso Siu Yan
Flash Point
Movie • 2007
Ma
Blade II
Movie • 2002
Snowman
An Empress and the Warriors
Movie • 2008
General Muyong Xuehu
Ip Man
Movie • 2008
Yip Man
Ip Man 2
Movie • 2010
Ip Man
Dragon Tiger Gate
Movie • 2006
Tiger Wong
Heroes Among Heroes
Movie • 1993
So Chan
The Lost Bladesman
Movie • 2011
Guan Yunchang
Iron Monkey 2
Movie • 1996
Iron Monkey
Cheetah on Fire
Movie • 1992
Ronnie
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
Movie • 2010
Chen Zhen
In the Line of Duty 4
Movie • 1989
Captain Donnie Yan
Painted Skin
Movie • 2008
Pang Yong
Dragon
Movie • 2011
Liu Jinxi / Tang Long
New Kung Fu Cult Master
Movie • 2022
Zhang Sanfeng
Ip Man 5
Movie
Ip Man
Flash Point: Resurgence
Movie
Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
The Prosecutor
Movie • 2024
Fok Chi Ho
Satan Returns
Movie • 1996
Nam
All's Well, End's Well 2011
Movie • 2011
Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
Movie • 2022
Zhang Sanfeng
All's Well, Ends Well
Movie • 2012
Carl Tam
Tiger Cage
Movie • 1988
Terry
Tiger Cage II
Movie • 1990
Dragon Yau
Ballistic Kiss
Movie • 1998
Cat Lee
John Wick: Chapter 4
Movie • 2023
Caine
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
Movie • 1991
Shiang Chin-Fei
Mismatched Couples
Movie • 1985
Eddie
High Voltage
Movie • 1995
Chiang Ho-Wa
The Monkey King
Movie • 2014
Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Together
Movie • 2013
Chan Kwok-Wah
Polar Rescue
Movie • 2022
A De
Black Rose II
Movie • 1997
Boxing School Owner
Special ID
Movie • 2013
Dragon Chan
Circus Kids
Movie • 1994
Danton Lee
Crystal Hunt
Movie • 1992
Leung / Brett Chan
Shanghai Affairs
Movie • 1998
Tong Shan
City of Darkness
Movie • 1999
Ozone
The Last Conflict
Movie • 1988
Dickson Kwan
Golden Chickensss
Movie • 2014
Yip Man
Sakra
Movie • 2023
Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
Movie • 2016
Silent Wolf
2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala
Movie • 2021
Iceman
Movie • 2014
Ying
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
Movie • 2001
Chen Zhen
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
Movie • 1994
Hung-Hei Kwun
Iron Monkey
Movie • 1993
Wong Kei-ying
Kung Fu Jungle
Movie • 2014
Hahou Mo
The Founding of a Republic
Movie • 2009
Tian Han
Kung Fu
Movie
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Movie • 2016
Chirrut Imwe
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
Movie • 1991
Ip Man 3
Movie • 2015
Ip Man
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
Movie • 2017
Xiang
From the World of John Wick: Caine
Movie
Caine
The Saint of Gamblers
Movie • 1995
Lung Chat
All's Well, End's Well 2009
Movie • 2009
Wedding Guest (cameo)
Ip Man 4: The Finale
Movie • 2019
Ip Man
Chasing the Dragon
Movie • 2017
Crippled Ho
Cinema of Vengeance
Movie • 1994
Self (uncredited)
Fist of Fury
Movie • 2002
Chen-Jun
Iceman: The Time Traveler
Movie • 2018
Ying
Guardians of Martial Arts
Movie • 2017
Master Yen
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Movie • 2009
Self
Enter the Fat Dragon
Movie • 2020
Fallon Zhu
Big Brother
Movie • 2018
Henry Chen Xia
Raging Fire
Movie • 2021
Bong
Hong Kong Superstars
Movie • 2001
Self
Mulan
Movie • 2020
Commander Tung
Love on the Rocks
Movie • 2004
Victor Tsui
An Inspector Calls
Movie • 2015
Band Members
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
Movie • 2017
Self
The Kung Fu Master
Movie • 2002
Hung Hei-Kwun
Kung Fu Stuntmen
Movie • 2021
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
Movie • 2002
Self
You are the Best
Movie • 2025
Alex Yang
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
Movie • 2004
Self
义侠勇闯上海滩
Movie • 1997
唐山
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
Movie • 2022
Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
Movie • 2001
A New Life
TV • 1991
Fist of Fury
TV • 1995
陈真
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self - Guest
File Noir
TV • 1989
Bravo Youngsters!
TV • 2020
The Kung Fu Master
TV • 1994
Hung Hei-gun
The Crime File
TV • 1991
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
TV • 2018
Crush Over
TV • 2023
Flying Squads
TV • 1989
Cheung Ho-nam
Running Man
TV • 2010
Club Sparkle
TV • 2009
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Chef Nic
TV • 2014
鲁豫有约一日行
TV • 2016
Roast
TV • 2017
2次重塑
TV • 2020
Armor Hero Star Ray
TV • 2024
General Qiu Bai
Be My Guest
TV • 2006