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