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).
Gender
Male
Birthday
1963-07-27
Place of birth
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Hero
2002
7.50
The Twins Effect II
2004
5.20
Once Upon a Time in China II
1992
7.15
Seven Swords
2005
6.20
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009
6.80
Shanghai Knights
2003
6.14
Highlander: Endgame
2000
4.82
Drunken Tai Chi
1984
6.50
Wing Chun
1994
6.80
Legend of the Wolf
1997
5.40
14 Blades
2010
6.34
SPL: Kill Zone
2005
6.90
Butterfly and Sword
1993
5.70
Dragon Inn
1992
7.20
Flash Point
2007
6.90
Blade II
2002
6.56
An Empress and the Warriors
2008
6.00
Ip Man
2008
7.76
Ip Man 2
2010
7.50
Dragon Tiger Gate
2006
6.70
Heroes Among Heroes
1993
6.20
The Lost Bladesman
2011
6.30
Iron Monkey 2
1996
7.00
Cheetah on Fire
1992
5.10
In the Line of Duty 4
1989
6.90
Painted Skin
2008
6.00
Dragon
2011
6.90
New Kung Fu Cult Master
2022
4.80
Ip Man 5
0.00
The Prosecutor
2024
7.10
Satan Returns
1996
4.60
All's Well, Ends Well 2011
2011
4.60
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
2022
4.60
All's Well, Ends Well
2012
4.80
Tiger Cage
1988
6.70
Tiger Cage II
1990
6.97
Ballistic Kiss
1998
3.90
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023
7.72
Mismatched Couples
1985
6.60
High Voltage
1995
5.40
The Monkey King
2014
5.55
Together
2013
2.50
Come Back Home
2022
4.40
Black Rose II
1997
10.00
Special ID
2013
5.93
Circus Kids
1994
4.90
Crystal Hunt
1992
5.00
Shanghai Affairs
1998
4.70
City of Darkness
1999
5.00
The Last Conflict
1988
5.70
Golden Chickensss
2014
5.90
Sakra
2023
6.40
Iceman
2014
5.50
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
2001
8.20
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
1994
7.00
Iron Monkey
1993
7.40
Kung Fu Jungle
2014
6.82
The Founding of a Republic
2009
5.20
Kung Fu
0.00
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2016
7.50
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
1991
0.00
Ip Man 3
2015
7.02
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
2017
6.13
The Saint of Gamblers
1995
5.40
All's Well, Ends Well 2009
2009
4.70
Ip Man 4: The Finale
2019
7.27
Chasing the Dragon
2017
6.90
Cinema of Vengeance
1994
5.40
Fist of Fury
2002
8.00
Iceman: The Time Traveler
2018
6.60
Guardians of Martial Arts
2017
5.80
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009
8.00
Enter the Fat Dragon
2020
6.40
Big Brother
2018
7.40
Raging Fire
2021
6.94
Hong Kong Superstars
2001
0.00
Mulan
2020
6.86
Love on the Rocks
2004
5.40
An Inspector Calls
2015
4.80
The Kung Fu Master
2002
7.00
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021
7.30
Wick Is Pain
2025
7.37