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