Donnie Yen
Acting
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).
Media of
Donnie Yen
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Donnie Yen
Alex Yang
... 2025
Fok Chi-ho
... 2024
Caine
... 2023
Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
... 2023
A De
... 2022
Zhang Sanfeng
... 2022
Zhang Sanfeng
... 2022
... 2021
Cheung Sung-bong
... 2021
Commander Tung
... 2020
Fallon Zhu
... 2020
Ip Man
... 2019
... 2018
Henry Chen Xia / Chan Hak
... 2018
Master Yen
... 2017
Crippled Ho
... 2017
... 2017
Chirrut Imwe
... 2016
Silent Wolf
... 2016
Ip Man
... 2015
Band Members
... 2015
Hahou Mo
... 2014
Ying
... 2014
Yip Man
... 2014
Sun Wukong / Monkey King
... 2014
Dragon Chan
... 2013
Chan Kwok-Wah
... 2013
Carl Tam
... 2012
Liu Jinxi / Tang Long
... 2011
General Guan Yunchang
... 2011
Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
... 2011
... 2010
Ip Man
... 2010
Qinglong
... 2010
Sum Chung-Yang
... 2009
Tian Han
... 2009
... 2009
Wedding Guest
... 2009
Yip Man
... 2008
Pang Yong
... 2008
General Muyong Xuehu
... 2008
Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
... 2007
Tiger Wong
... 2006
Inspector Ma Kwun
... 2005
Chu Zhaonan
... 2005
... 2004
General Lone
... 2004
Victor Tsui
... 2004
Wu Chow
... 2003
... 2002
Hung Hei-Kwun
... 2002
Sky
... 2002
Chen-Jun
... 2002
Snowman
... 2002
Chen Zhen
... 2001
Self
... 2001
Jin Ke
... 2000
Ozone
... 1999
Tong Shan
... 1998
Cat Lee
... 1998
Fung Man-hin
... 1997
Boxing School Owner
... 1997
唐山
... 1997
Nam
... 1996
Iron Monkey
... 1996
Lung Chat
... 1995
Chiang Ho-Wa
... 1995
Danton Lee
... 1994
Hung-Hei Kwun
... 1994
Leung Pok To
... 1994
Self (uncredited)
... 1994
So Chan
... 1993
Wong Kei-ying
... 1993
Yip Cheung
... 1993
Eunuch Tso Siu Yan
... 1992
Commander Lan
... 1992
Leung / Brett Chan
... 1992
Ronnie
... 1992
Shiang Chin-Fei
... 1991
... 1991
Dragon Yau
... 1990
Captain Donnie Yan
... 1989
Terry
... 1988
Dickson Kwan
... 1988
Eddie
... 1985
Chan Chuen Chung
... 1984
Ip Man
Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
