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Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen

Acting

Born July 27, 1963 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).

TV Shows(18)

Movies(93)

You are the Best

You are the Best

Alex Yang

2025

The Prosecutor

The Prosecutor

Fok Chi Ho

2024

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

Mulan

Mulan

Commander Tung

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

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

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Chirrut Imwe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

Shiang Chin-Fei

1991

Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

1991

Tiger Cage II

Tiger Cage II

Dragon Yau

1990

In the Line of Duty 4

In the Line of Duty 4

Captain Donnie Yan

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

Ip Man 5

Ip Man 5

Ip Man

Flash Point: Resurgence

Flash Point: Resurgence

Det. Sgt. Ma Jun

Kung Fu

Kung Fu

Caine

Caine

Caine