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