Cast
Donnie Yen
Acting
Cast
Donnie Yen
Known for
Acting
Born
1963-07-27
From
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Also known as Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Yen Ji-Dan, Yen Chi-Tan
Biography
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).
John Wick: Chapter 4
as Caine
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
as Xiang
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
as Chirrut Imwe
Hero
as Sky
Big Brother
as Henry Chen Xia
Mulan
as Commander Tung
Blade II
as Snowman
Sakra
as Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
The Prosecutor
as Fok Chi Ho
Raging Fire
as Bong
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
as Silent Wolf
The Monkey King
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King
SPL: Kill Zone
as Inspector Ma Kwun
Shanghai Knights
as Wu Chow
Ip Man
as Yip Man
Flash Point
as Ma
New Dragon Gate Inn
as Eunuch Tso Siu Yan
Kung Fu Jungle
as Hahou Mo
Once Upon a Time in China II
as Commander Lan
Dragon
as Liu Jinxi / Tang Long
Ip Man 3
as Ip Man
The Founding of a Republic
as Tian Han
Bodyguards and Assassins
as Sum Chung-Yang
The Twins Effect II
as General Lone
Ip Man 4: The Finale
as Ip Man
Chasing the Dragon
as Crippled Ho
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
as Chen Zhen
14 Blades
as Qinglong
Dragon Tiger Gate
as Tiger Wong
Seven Swords
as Chu Zhaonan
Highlander: Endgame
as Jin Ke
Tiger Cage II
as Dragon Yau
New Kung Fu Cult Master
as Zhang Sanfeng
Iron Monkey
as Wong Kei-ying
Painted Skin
as Pang Yong
Wing Chun
as Leung Pok To
Enter the Fat Dragon
as Fallon Zhu
In the Line of Duty 4
as Captain Donnie Yan
Iceman
as Ying
Special ID
as Dragon Chan
The Lost Bladesman
as Guan Yunchang
Love on the Rocks
as Victor Tsui
Legend of the Wolf
as Fung Man-hin
Tiger Cage
as Terry
An Empress and the Warriors
as General Muyong Xuehu
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
as Zhang Sanfeng
Golden Chickensss
as Yip Man
All's Well, End's Well 2009
as Wedding Guest (cameo)
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
as Self
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
as Self
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
as Self
The Saint of Gamblers
as Lung Chat
Mismatched Couples
as Eddie
All's Well, End's Well 2011
as Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
as Shiang Chin-Fei
An Inspector Calls
as Band Members
Kung Fu Stuntmen
The Last Conflict
as Dickson Kwan
Butterfly and Sword
as Yip Cheung
Crystal Hunt
as Leung / Brett Chan
City of Darkness
as Ozone
Guardians of Martial Arts
as Master Yen
Satan Returns
as Nam
Heroes Among Heroes
as So Chan
All's Well, Ends Well
as Carl Tam
You are the Best
as Alex Yang
Ballistic Kiss
as Cat Lee
Polar Rescue
as A De
Drunken Tai Chi
as Chan Chuen Chung
Iceman: The Time Traveler
as Ying
Iron Monkey 2
as Iron Monkey
Cheetah on Fire
as Ronnie
Cinema of Vengeance
as Self (uncredited)
Caine
as Caine
Circus Kids
as Danton Lee
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
as Hung-Hei Kwun
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Together
as Chan Kwok-Wah
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
as Self
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
as Chen Zhen
Black Rose II
as Boxing School Owner
Hong Kong Superstars
as Self
High Voltage
as Chiang Ho-Wa
Kung Fu
Ip Man 2
as Ip Man
Shanghai Affairs
as Tong Shan
The Kung Fu Master
as Hung Hei-Kwun
Ip Man 5
as Ip Man
Fist of Fury
as Chen-Jun
Flash Point: Resurgence
as Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
义侠勇闯上海滩
as 唐山
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
