Donnie Yen
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Donnie Yen Chi-tan (Chinese: 甄子丹; Jyutping: jan1 zi2 daan1; pinyin: Zhēn Zǐdān; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. His accolades include 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 a co-producer of 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), Flash Point (2007), 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 elements of mixed martial arts (MMA) 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). Description above from the Wikipedia article Donnie Yen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Credits
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
as Xiang
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
as Caine
Big Brother (2018)
as Henry Chen Xia
Mulan (2020)
as Commander Tung
Hero (2002)
as Sky
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
as Chirrut Imwe
Blade II (2002)
as Snowman
The Prosecutor (2024)
as Fok Chi Ho
Sakra (2023)
as Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
An Empress and the Warriors (2008)
as General Muyong Xuehu
Flash Point (2007)
as Ma
14 Blades (2010)
as Qinglong
SPL: Kill Zone (2005)
as Inspector Ma Kwun
New Dragon Gate Inn (1992)
as Eunuch Tso Siu Yan
The Monkey King (2014)
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Ip Man (2008)
as Yip Man
Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)
as Commander Lan
Shanghai Knights (2003)
as Wu Chow
Raging Fire (2021)
as Bong
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)
as Silent Wolf
The Twins Effect II (2004)
as General Lone
Dragon (2011)
as Liu Jinxi / Tang Long
Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)
as Sum Chung-Yang
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
as Chen Zhen
The Founding of a Republic (2009)
as Tian Han
Iron Monkey (1993)
as Wong Kei-ying
Kung Fu Jungle (2014)
as Hahou Mo
Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)
as Dragon Wong
Painted Skin (2008)
as Pang Yong
Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
as Ip Man
Tiger Cage II (1990)
as Dragon Yau
Seven Swords (2005)
as Chu Zhaonan
Ip Man 3 (2015)
as Ip Man
New Kung Fu Cult Master (2022)
as Zhang Sanfeng
Highlander: Endgame (2000)
as Jin Ke
Chasing the Dragon (2017)
as Crippled Ho
In the Line of Duty 4 (1989)
as Captain Donnie Yan
Iceman (2014)
as Ying
All's Well, End's Well 2011 (2011)
as Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2 (2022)
as Zhang Sanfeng
Enter the Fat Dragon (2020)
as Fallon Zhu
Butterfly and Sword (1993)
as Yip Cheung
The Lost Bladesman (2011)
as Guan Yunchang
You are the Best (2025)
as Alex Yang
Tiger Cage (1988)
as Terry
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead (1991)
as Shiang Chin-Fei
Special ID (2013)
as Dragon Chan
Guardians of Martial Arts (2017)
as Master Yen
Wing Chun (1994)
as Leung Pok To
Legend of the Wolf (1997)
as Fung Man-hin
The Saint of Gamblers (1995)
as Lung Chat
All's Well, Ends Well (2012)
as Carl Tam
Mismatched Couples (1985)
as Eddie
Cheetah on Fire (1992)
as Ronnie
Heroes Among Heroes (1993)
as So Chan
Kung Fu Stuntmen (2021)
Actor
Golden Chickensss (2014)
as Yip Man
Polar Rescue (2022)
as A De
All's Well, End's Well 2009 (2009)
as Wedding Guest (cameo)
Ballistic Kiss (1998)
as Cat Lee
Love on the Rocks (2004)
as Victor Tsui
An Inspector Calls (2015)
as Band Members
Iceman: The Time Traveler (2018)
as Ying
Crystal Hunt (1992)
as Leung / Brett Chan
Drunken Tai Chi (1984)
as Chan Chuen Chung
The Last Conflict (1988)
as Dickson Kwan
Circus Kids (1994)
as Danton Lee
City of Darkness (1999)
as Ozone
How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009)
as Self
High Voltage (1995)
as Chiang Ho-Wa
Caine (—)
as Caine
Black Rose II (1997)
as Boxing School Owner
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (2022)
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Iron Monkey 2 (1996)
as Iron Monkey
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2017)
as Self
Together (2013)
as Chan Kwok-Wah
Kung Fu (—)
Actor
Ip Man 5 (—)
as Ip Man
Shanghai Affairs (1998)
as Tong Shan
Satan Returns (1996)
as Nam
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece (2004)
as Self
Hong Kong Superstars (2001)
as Self
Ip Man 2 (2010)
as Ip Man
Fist of Fury (2002)
as Chen-Jun
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master (1994)
as Hung-Hei Kwun
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II' (2002)
as Self
Cinema of Vengeance (1994)
as Self (uncredited)
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge (2001)
as Chen Zhen
义侠勇闯上海滩 (1997)
as 唐山
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon' (2001)
Actor
The Kung Fu Master (2002)
as Hung Hei-Kwun
Flash Point: Resurgence (—)
as Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991 (1991)
Actor