Snape
← Home
Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen

Acting

Born: July 27, 1963Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

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).

Known For
Filmography
You are the Best

You are the Best

Alex Yang

2025
The Prosecutor

The Prosecutor

Fok Chi Ho

2024
John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4

Caine

2023
Sakra

Sakra

Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng

2023
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins

The Monkey King: The Legend Begins

Sun Wukong / Monkey King

2022
Polar Rescue

Polar Rescue

A De

2022
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2

New Kung Fu Cult Master 2

Zhang Sanfeng

2022
New Kung Fu Cult Master

New Kung Fu Cult Master

Zhang Sanfeng

2022
Kung Fu Stuntmen

Kung Fu Stuntmen

2021
Raging Fire

Raging Fire

Bong

2021
2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala

2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala

2021
Mulan

Mulan

Commander Tung

2020
Enter the Fat Dragon

Enter the Fat Dragon

Fallon Zhu

2020
Ip Man 4: The Finale

Ip Man 4: The Finale

Ip Man

2019
Iceman: The Time Traveler

Iceman: The Time Traveler

Ying

2018
Big Brother

Big Brother

Henry Chen Xia

2018
Guardians of Martial Arts

Guardians of Martial Arts

Master Yen

2017
Chasing the Dragon

Chasing the Dragon

Crippled Ho

2017
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

Self

2017
xXx: Return of Xander Cage

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Xiang

2017
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Chirrut Imwe

2016
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Silent Wolf

2016
Ip Man 3

Ip Man 3

Ip Man

2015
An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls

Band Members

2015
Kung Fu Jungle

Kung Fu Jungle

Hahou Mo

2014
Iceman

Iceman

Ying

2014
Golden Chickensss

Golden Chickensss

Yip Man

2014
The Monkey King

The Monkey King

Sun Wukong / Monkey King

2014
Special ID

Special ID

Dragon Chan

2013
Together

Together

Chan Kwok-Wah

2013
All's Well, Ends Well

All's Well, Ends Well

Carl Tam

2012
Dragon

Dragon

Liu Jinxi / Tang Long

2011
The Lost Bladesman

The Lost Bladesman

Guan Yunchang

2011
All's Well, End's Well 2011

All's Well, End's Well 2011

Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng

2011
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen

Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen

Chen Zhen

2010
Ip Man 2

Ip Man 2

Ip Man

2010
14 Blades

14 Blades

Qinglong

2010
Bodyguards and Assassins

Bodyguards and Assassins

Sum Chung-Yang

2009
The Founding of a Republic

The Founding of a Republic

Tian Han

2009
How Bruce Lee Changed the World

How Bruce Lee Changed the World

Self

2009
All's Well, End's Well 2009

All's Well, End's Well 2009

Wedding Guest (cameo)

2009
Ip Man

Ip Man

Yip Man

2008
Painted Skin

Painted Skin

Pang Yong

2008
An Empress and the Warriors

An Empress and the Warriors

General Muyong Xuehu

2008
Flash Point

Flash Point

Ma

2007
Dragon Tiger Gate

Dragon Tiger Gate

Tiger Wong

2006
SPL: Kill Zone

SPL: Kill Zone

Inspector Ma Kwun

2005
Seven Swords

Seven Swords

Chu Zhaonan

2005
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece

'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece

Self

2004
The Twins Effect II

The Twins Effect II

General Lone

2004
Love on the Rocks

Love on the Rocks

Victor Tsui

2004
Shanghai Knights

Shanghai Knights

Wu Chow

2003
Hero

Hero

Sky

2002
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'

The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'

Self

2002
The Kung Fu Master

The Kung Fu Master

Hung Hei-Kwun

2002
Fist of Fury

Fist of Fury

Chen-Jun

2002
Blade II

Blade II

Snowman

2002
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge

Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge

Chen Zhen

2001
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'

Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'

2001
Hong Kong Superstars

Hong Kong Superstars

Self

2001
Highlander: Endgame

Highlander: Endgame

Jin Ke

2000
City of Darkness

City of Darkness

Ozone

1999
Shanghai Affairs

Shanghai Affairs

Tong Shan

1998
Ballistic Kiss

Ballistic Kiss

Cat Lee

1998
Legend of the Wolf

Legend of the Wolf

Fung Man-hin

1997
Black Rose II

Black Rose II

Boxing School Owner

1997
义侠勇闯上海滩

义侠勇闯上海滩

唐山

1997
Satan Returns

Satan Returns

Nam

1996
Iron Monkey 2

Iron Monkey 2

Iron Monkey

1996
The Saint of Gamblers

The Saint of Gamblers

Lung Chat

1995
High Voltage

High Voltage

Chiang Ho-Wa

1995
Circus Kids

Circus Kids

Danton Lee

1994
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master

Revenge of the Kung Fu Master

Hung-Hei Kwun

1994
Wing Chun

Wing Chun

Leung Pok To

1994
Cinema of Vengeance

Cinema of Vengeance

Self (uncredited)

1994
Heroes Among Heroes

Heroes Among Heroes

So Chan

1993
Iron Monkey

Iron Monkey

Wong Kei-ying

1993
Butterfly and Sword

Butterfly and Sword

Yip Cheung

1993
New Dragon Gate Inn

New Dragon Gate Inn

Eunuch Tso Siu Yan

1992
Once Upon a Time in China II

Once Upon a Time in China II

Commander Lan

1992
Crystal Hunt

Crystal Hunt

Leung / Brett Chan

1992
Cheetah on Fire

Cheetah on Fire

Ronnie

1992
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead

Shiang Chin-Fei

1991
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991

1991
Tiger Cage II

Tiger Cage II

Dragon Yau

1990
In the Line of Duty 4

In the Line of Duty 4

Captain Donnie Yan

1989
Tiger Cage

Tiger Cage

Terry

1988
The Last Conflict

The Last Conflict

Dickson Kwan

1988
Mismatched Couples

Mismatched Couples

Eddie

1985
Drunken Tai Chi

Drunken Tai Chi

Chan Chuen Chung

1984