Donnie Yen
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).
111 acting credits · 7 directing credits
Acting · 111
Running Man
2010
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023
The Oscars
1953
鲁豫有约一日行
2016
Roast
2017
Chef Nic
2014
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
2017
Club Sparkle
2009
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2016
Big Brother
2018
Hero
2002
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
2018
The Prosecutor
2024
Mulan
2020
Blade II
2002
Be My Guest
2006
New Dragon Gate Inn
1992
Sakra
2023
File Noir
1989
The Monkey King
2014
The Twins Effect II
2004
Fist of Fury
1995
The Kung Fu Master
1994
14 Blades
2010
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
2016
Raging Fire
2021
Once Upon a Time in China II
1992
SPL: Kill Zone
2005
Kung Fu Jungle
2014
Shanghai Knights
2003
The Founding of a Republic
2009
Ip Man
2008
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
2010
Flying Squads
1989
Flash Point
2007
Painted Skin
2008
Seven Swords
2005
Ip Man 3
2015
Legend of the Wolf
1997
Chasing the Dragon
2017
Dragon Tiger Gate
2006
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009
Enter the Fat Dragon
2020
Dragon
2011
A New Life
1991
Crush Over
2023
Iron Monkey
1993
In the Line of Duty 4
1989
All's Well, End's Well 2011
2011
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
2004
Ip Man 4: The Finale
2019
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
2022
The Crime File
1991
Bravo Youngsters!
2020
Iceman
2014
The Lost Bladesman
2011
Highlander: Endgame
2000
New Kung Fu Cult Master
2022
Tiger Cage II
1990
Tiger Cage
1988
The Saint of Gamblers
1995
An Empress and the Warriors
2008
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
2017
Special ID
2013
All's Well, End's Well 2009
2009
Butterfly and Sword
1993
Heroes Among Heroes
1993
Wing Chun
1994
Cheetah on Fire
1992
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
1991
All's Well, Ends Well
2012
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021
Together
2013
An Inspector Calls
2015
Drunken Tai Chi
1984
Love on the Rocks
2004
Mismatched Couples
1985
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009
Guardians of Martial Arts
2017
Golden Chickensss
2014
Iron Monkey 2
1996
Satan Returns
1996
You are the Best
2025
Iceman: The Time Traveler
2018
Polar Rescue
2022
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
2022
Black Rose II
1997
Crystal Hunt
1992
2次重塑
2020
The Last Conflict
1988
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
1994
Hong Kong Superstars
2001
City of Darkness
1999
Ballistic Kiss
1998
Shanghai Affairs
1998
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
2001
Caine
—
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
2002
Ip Man 2
2010
Cinema of Vengeance
1994
High Voltage
1995
Circus Kids
1994
Ip Man 5
—
The Kung Fu Master
2002
Fist of Fury
2002
Kung Fu
—
义侠勇闯上海滩
1997
Flash Point: Resurgence
—
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
1991
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
2001
