Donnie Yen
Age: N/A | From: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: 甄子丹 , Donnie Yen Ji-Dan , 견자단 , Yen Ji-Dan , Yen Chi-Tan , Yan Chi-Tan , Yen Chi-Ten , Yin Sze-Dan , Zhen Zi Dan , Донни Йен , Ντόνι Γιέν , Zhen Zidan , Chung Tử Đơn , Chân Tử Đan , Donnie Yen , Donnie Yen Chi-Tan , دانی ین , دوني ين
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 123
TV Involvements: 4
Most Famous Work
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).
Most Famous Work
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023) Caine
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
(2017) Xiang
The Oscars
(1953) Self
Mulan
(2020) Commander Tung
Fist of Fury
(1995) 陈真
Flying Squads
(1989) Cheung Ho-nam
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
(2016) Chirrut Imwe
The Prosecutor
(2024) Fok Chi-hoActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| Fok Chi-ho | ||
| 2023 | N/A | |
| Caine | ||
| Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng | ||
| 2022 | A De | |
| Zhang Sanfeng | ||
| Zhang Sanfeng | ||
| 2021 | N/A | |
| Cheung Sung-bong | ||
| N/A | ||
| 2020 | N/A | |
| Commander Tung | ||
| N/A | ||
| Fallon Zhu | ||
| 2019 | Ip Man | |
| 2018 | N/A | |
| Ying | ||
| Henry Chen Xia / Chan Hak | ||
| 2017 | Master Yen | |
| Crippled Ho | ||
| Self | ||
| Xiang | ||
| N/A | ||
| 2016 | Chirrut Imwe | |
| N/A | ||
| Silent Wolf | ||
| 2015 | Ip Man | |
| Band Members | ||
| 2014 | Hahou Mo | |
| N/A | ||
| Ying | ||
| Yip Man | ||
| Sun Wukong / Monkey King | ||
| 2013 | Dragon Chan | |
| Chan Kwok-Wah | ||
| 2012 | Carl Tam | |
| 2011 | Liu Jinxi / Tang Long | |
| General Guan Yunchang | ||
| Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng | ||
| 2010 | Chen Zhen | |
| Self | ||
| Ip Man | ||
| Qinglong | ||
| 2009 | Sum Chung-Yang | |
| Tian Han | ||
| Self | ||
| Wedding Guest | ||
| N/A | ||
| 2008 | Yip Man | |
| Pang Yong | ||
| General Muyong Xuehu | ||
| 2007 | Det. Sgt. Ma Jun | |
| 2006 | Dragon Wong | |
| 2005 | Inspector Ma Kwun | |
| Chu Zhaonan | ||
| 2004 | Self | |
| General Lone | ||
| Victor Tsui | ||
| 2003 | Wu Chow | |
| Self | ||
| 2002 | Self | |
| Hung Hei-Kwun | ||
| Sky | ||
| Chen-Jun | ||
| Snowman | ||
| 2001 | Chen Zhen | |
| Self | ||
| 2000 | Jin Ke | |
| 1999 | Ozone | |
| 1998 | Tong Shan | |
| Cat Lee | ||
| 1997 | Fung Man-hin | |
| Boxing School Owner | ||
| 1996 | Nam | |
| Iron Monkey | ||
| 1995 | 陈真 | |
| Lung Chat | ||
| Chiang Ho-Wa | ||
| 1994 | Danton Lee | |
| Hung-Hei Kwun | ||
| Hung Hei-gun | ||
| Leung Pok To | ||
| Self (uncredited) | ||
| 1993 | So Chan | |
| Wong Kei-ying | ||
| Yip Cheung | ||
| 1992 | Eunuch Tso Siu Yan | |
| Commander Lan | ||
| Ronnie | ||
| 1991 | N/A | |
| Shiang Chin-Fei | ||
| N/A | ||
| N/A | ||
| Leung / Brett Chan | ||
| 1990 | Dragon Yau | |
| 1989 | Cheung Ho-nam | |
| Captain Donnie Yan | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1988 | Terry | |
| Dickson Kwan | ||
| 1985 | Eddie | |
| 1984 | Chan Chuen Chung | |
| 1953 | Self | |
| N/A | ||
| Caine | ||
| Det. Sgt. Ma Jun | ||
| N/A | ||
| Ip Man | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Directing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Director | |
| 2023 | Director | |
| 2021 | Action Director | |
| 2018 | Action Director | |
| 2014 | Action Director | |
| 2011 | Action Director | |
| 2006 | Action Director | |
| Action Director | ||
| 2004 | Director | |
| 2003 | Co-Director | |
| Action Director | ||
| 2001 | Action Director | |
| 1999 | Action Director | |
| 1998 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1997 | Director | |
| 1994 | Action Director | |
| Director | ||
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Production
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Producer | |
| 2023 | Producer | |
| 2022 | Producer | |
| 2021 | Producer | |
| Executive Producer | ||
| 2020 | Producer | |
| 2018 | Producer | |
| Producer | ||
| 2017 | Producer | |
| 2014 | Producer | |
| 2007 | Producer | |
| 1998 | Producer | |
| 1997 | Producer | |
| Producer | ||
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Crew
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2011 | Choreographer | |
| 2010 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 2007 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2006 | Stunts | |
| 2005 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 2004 | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 2002 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 2001 | Stunts | |
| Martial Arts Choreographer | ||
| 1999 | Stunts | |
| Choreographer | ||
| 1998 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1997 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1994 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1992 | Stunt Double | |
| 1990 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1988 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1986 | Choreographer | |
| 1982 | Stunt Double | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Writing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Writer | |
| 1997 | Screenplay | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |