Donnie Yen
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).
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Photos
Movies (105)
You are the Best
2025 · Alex Yang
The Prosecutor
2024 · Fok Chi Ho, Director, Producer
John Wick 4
2023 · Caine
Sakra
2023 · Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng, Director, Producer
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins
2022 · Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Polar Rescue
2022 · A De, Producer
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
2022 · Zhang Sanfeng
New Kung Fu Cult Master
2022 · Zhang Sanfeng
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021
Raging Fire
2021 · Bong, Action Director, Producer
Wuhan Wuhan
2021 · Executive Producer
Mulán
2020 · Commander Tung
Enter the Fat Dragon
2020 · Fallon Zhu, Producer
Ip Man 4: The Finale
2019 · Ip Man
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy
2018 · Producer
Iceman: The Time Traveler
2018 · Ying
Big Brother
2018 · Henry Chen Xia, Producer, Action Director
Guardians of Martial Arts
2017 · Master Yen
Chasing the Dragon
2017 · Crippled Ho, Producer
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
2017 · Self
xXx: Reactivado
2017 · Xiang, Fight Choreographer
Star Wars: Rogue One
2016 · Chirrut Imwe
Tigre y dragón 2: La espada del destino
2016 · Silent Wolf
Ip Man 3
2015 · Ip Man
An Inspector Calls
2015 · Band Members
Kung Fu Jungle
2014 · Hahou Mo, Action Director
Iceman
2014 · Ying, Producer
Golden Chickensss
2014 · Yip Man
The Monkey King
2014 · Sun Wukong / Monkey King
Wu Xia Pian - Le Festin du Tigre Chinois
2013 · Self
Special ID
2013 · Dragon Chan
Together
2013 · Chan Kwok-Wah
All's Well, Ends Well
2012 · Carl Tam
Dragon
2011 · Liu Jinxi / Tang Long, Action Director
The Lost Bladesman
2011 · Guan Yunchang, Choreographer
All's Well, End's Well 2011
2011 · Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
2010 · Chen Zhen, Martial Arts Choreographer
Ip Man 2
2010 · Ip Man
14 Blades
2010 · Qinglong
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009 · Shum Chung Yang
The Founding of a Republic
2009 · Tian Han
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009 · Self
All's Well, End's Well 2009
2009 · Wedding Guest (cameo)
Ip Man
2008 · Yip Man
Painted Skin
2008 · Pang Yong
An Empress and the Warriors
2008 · General Muyong Xuehu
Flash Point
2007 · Ma, Producer, Action Director
Dragon Tiger Gate
2006 · Dragon Wong, Action Director, Co-Producer
Alex Rider: Operación Stormbreaker
2006 · Action Director, Stunts
SPL: Kill Zone
2005 · Inspector Ma Kwun, Martial Arts Choreographer
Seven Swords
2005 · Chu Zhaonan
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
2004 · Self
The Twins Effect II
2004 · General Lone, Stunt Coordinator
Love on the Rocks
2004 · Victor Tsui
Protégé de la Rose Noire
2004 · Director
The Twins Effect
2003 · Co-Director, Action Director
Shanghai Kid en Londres
2003 · Wu Chow
Hero
2002 · Sky
The Blood Pact: The Making of Blade II
2002 · Self
The Kung Fu Master
2002 · Hung Hei-Kwun
Fist of Fury
2002 · Chen-Jun
Blade II
2002 · Snowman, Martial Arts Choreographer
The Princess Blade
2001 · Action Director, Stunts
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
2001 · Chen Zhen, Martial Arts Choreographer
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
2001
Hong Kong Superstars
2001 · Self
Highlander: Juego Final
2000 · Jin Ke, Martial Arts Choreographer
Der Puma - Kämpfer mit Herz
1999 · Stunts
Moonlight Express
1999 · Action Director, Choreographer
City of Darkness
1999 · Ozone
Shanghai Affairs
1998 · Tong Shan, Director
Ballistic Kiss
1998 · Cat Lee, Martial Arts Choreographer, Director, Producer, Writer
Legend of the Wolf
1997 · Fung Man-hin, Director, Screenplay, Martial Arts Choreographer, Producer
Black Rose II
1997 · Boxing School Owner
义侠勇闯上海滩
1997 · 唐山
Satan Returns
1996 · Nam
Iron Monkey 2
1996 · Iron Monkey
The Saint of Gamblers
1995 · Lung Chat
High Voltage
1995 · Chiang Ho-Wa
Circus Kids
1994 · Danton Lee
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
1994 · Hung-Hei Kwun
Wing Chun
1994 · Leung Pok To, Martial Arts Choreographer, Action Director
Cinema of Vengeance
1994 · Self (uncredited)
Heroes Among Heroes
1993 · So Chan
Iron Monkey
1993 · Wong Kei-ying
Butterfly and Sword
1993 · Yip Cheung
New Dragon Gate Inn
1992 · Eunuch Tso Siu Yan, Stunt Double
Once Upon a Time in China II
1992 · Commander Lan
Crystal Hunt
1992 · Leung / Brett Chan
Cheetah on Fire
1992 · Ronnie
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
1991 · Shiang Chin-Fei
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
1991
Tiger Cage II
1990 · Dragon Yau, Martial Arts Choreographer
In the Line of Duty 4
1989 · Captain Donnie Yan
Tiger Cage
1988 · Terry, Martial Arts Choreographer
The Last Conflict
1988 · Dickson Kwan
The Close Encounters of Vampire
1986 · Choreographer
Mismatched Couples
1985 · Eddie
Drunken Tai Chi
1984 · Chan Chuen Chung
The Miracle Fighters
1982 · Stunt Double
Ip Man 5
· Ip Man
Flash Point: Resurgence
· Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
Kung Fu
Caine
· Caine, Director, Executive Producer
狠家伙
· Executive Producer
TV shows (18)
Crush Over
2023
Bravo Youngsters!
2020
2次重塑
2020
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
2018
Roast
2017
鲁豫有约一日行
2016
Chef Nic
2014
Running Man
2010
Club Sparkle
2009
Be My Guest
2006
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self - Guest
Fist of Fury
1995 · 陈真
The Kung Fu Master
1994 · Hung Hei-gun
A New Life
1991
The Crime File
1991
Flying Squads
1989 · Cheung Ho-nam
File Noir
1989
The Oscars
1953 · Self