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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
July 27, 1963
Place of Birth
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Also Known As
- 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
Donnie Yen
9.6 Popularity
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).
Known For
7.2
Alex Yang
You are the Best
2025
0.0
General Qiu Bai
Armor Hero Star Ray
2024
6.8
Fok Chi-ho
The Prosecutor
2024
6.5
Crush Over
2023
7.7
Caine
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023
6.4
Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
Sakra
2023
5.5
A De
Polar Rescue
2022
4.8
Zhang Sanfeng
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
2022
4.9
Zhang Sanfeng
New Kung Fu Cult Master
2022
7.3
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021
Credits
You are the Best
as Alex Yang
2025
7.2
Armor Hero Star Ray
as General Qiu Bai
2024
0.0
The Prosecutor
as Fok Chi-ho
2024
6.8
Crush Over
2023
6.5
John Wick: Chapter 4
as Caine
2023
7.7
Sakra
as Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng
2023
6.4
Polar Rescue
as A De
2022
5.5
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2
as Zhang Sanfeng
2022
4.8
New Kung Fu Cult Master
as Zhang Sanfeng
2022
4.9
Kung Fu Stuntmen
2021
7.3
Raging Fire
as Bong
2021
7.0
2021 China Central Radio and TV Station Spring Festival Gala
2021
5.0
Bravo Youngsters!
2020
0.0
Mulan
as Commander Tung
2020
6.8
2次重塑
2020
0.0
Enter the Fat Dragon
as Fallon Zhu
2020
6.3
Ip Man 4: The Finale
as Ip Man
2019
7.3
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
2018
0.0
Iceman: The Time Traveler
as Ying
2018
6.5
Big Brother
as Henry Chen Xia / Chan Hak
2018
7.4
Guardians of Martial Arts
as Master Yen
2017
5.7
Chasing the Dragon
as Crippled Ho
2017
6.9
The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
as Self
2017
5.6
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
as Xiang
2017
6.1
Roast
2017
7.2
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
as Chirrut Imwe
2016
7.5
鲁豫有约一日行
2016
4.0
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
as Silent Wolf
2016
6.2
Ip Man 3
as Ip Man
2015
7.0
An Inspector Calls
as Band Members
2015
4.8
Kung Fu Jungle
as Hahou Mo
2014
6.8
Chef Nic
2014
0.0
Iceman
as Ying
2014
5.5
Golden Chickensss
as Yip Man
2014
5.7
The Monkey King
as Sun Wukong / Monkey King
2014
5.6
Special ID
as Dragon Chan
2013
5.9
Together
as Chan Kwok-Wah
2013
2.5
All's Well, Ends Well
as Carl Tam
2012
4.9
Dragon
as Liu Jinxi / Tang Long
2011
6.9
The Lost Bladesman
as Guan Yunchang
2011
6.3
All's Well, Ends Well 2011
as Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng
2011
4.7
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
as Chen Zhen
2010
6.8
Running Man
2010
8.3
Ip Man 2
as Ip Man
2010
7.5
14 Blades
as Qinglong
2010
6.3
Bodyguards and Assassins
as Sum Chung-Yang
2009
6.8
The Founding of a Republic
as Tian Han
2009
5.2
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
as Self
2009
8.0
All's Well, Ends Well 2009
as Wedding Guest
2009
4.6
Club Sparkle
2009
0.0
Ip Man
as Yip Man
2008
7.8
Painted Skin
as Pang Yong
2008
6.0
An Empress and the Warriors
as General Muyong Xuehu
2008
6.0
Flash Point
as Ma
2007
6.9
Dragon Tiger Gate
as Tiger Wong
2006
6.7
Be My Guest
2006
0.0
SPL: Kill Zone
as Inspector Ma Kwun
2005
6.9
Seven Swords
as Chu Zhaonan
2005
6.2
'Hero' Defined: A Look at the Epic Masterpiece
as Self
2004
0.0
The Twins Effect II
as General Lone
2004
5.2
Love on the Rocks
as Victor Tsui
2004
5.4
Shanghai Knights
as Wu Chow
2003
6.1
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
2003
5.5
The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II'
as Self
2002
3.0
The Kung Fu Master
as Hung Hei-Kwun
2002
7.0
Hero
as Sky
2002
7.5
Fist of Fury
as Chen-Jun
2002
8.0
Blade II
as Snowman
2002
6.6
Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge
as Chen Zhen
2001
8.2
Hong Kong Superstars
as Self
2001
0.0
Highlander: Endgame
as Jin Ke
2000
4.8
City of Darkness
as Ozone
1999
5.0
Shanghai Affairs
as Tong Shan
1998
4.7
Ballistic Kiss
as Cat Lee
1998
4.2
Legend of the Wolf
as Fung Man-hin
1997
5.3
Black Rose II
as Boxing School Owner
1997
10.0
义侠勇闯上海滩
as 唐山
1997
0.0
Satan Returns
as Nam
1996
4.4
Iron Monkey 2
as Iron Monkey
1996
6.8
Fist of Fury
as 陈真
1995
6.2
The Saint of Gamblers
as Lung Chat
1995
5.4
High Voltage
as Chiang Ho-Wa
1995
5.4
Circus Kids
as Danton Lee
1994
4.9
Revenge of the Kung Fu Master
as Hung-Hei Kwun
1994
7.0
The Kung Fu Master
as Hung Hei-gun
1994
7.3
Wing Chun
as Leung Pok To
1994
6.8
Cinema of Vengeance
as Self (uncredited)
1994
5.4
Heroes Among Heroes
as So Chan
1993
6.2
Iron Monkey
as Wong Kei-ying
1993
7.4
Butterfly and Sword
as Yip Cheung
1993
5.7
Dragon Inn
as Eunuch Tso Siu Yan
1992
7.2
Once Upon a Time in China II
as Commander Lan
1992
7.2
Crystal Hunt
as Leung / Brett Chan
1992
5.0
Cheetah on Fire
as Ronnie
1992
5.1
A New Life
1991
0.0
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead
as Shiang Chin-Fei
1991
4.7
The Crime File
1991
0.0
Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991
1991
0.0
Tiger Cage II
as Dragon Yau
1990
6.9
Flying Squads
as Cheung Ho-nam
1989
0.0
In the Line of Duty 4
as Captain Donnie Yan
1989
6.8
File Noir
1989
0.0
Tiger Cage
as Terry
1988
6.6
The Last Conflict
as Dickson Kwan
1988
5.7
Mismatched Couples
as Eddie
1985
6.7
Drunken Tai Chi
as Chan Chuen Chung
1984
6.4
The Oscars
as Self
1953
7.0
Ip Man 5
as Ip Man
N/A
0.0
🎬
Kung Fu
N/A
0.0
🎬
From the World of John Wick: Caine
as Caine
N/A
0.0
Flash Point: Resurgence
as Det. Sgt. Ma Jun
N/A
0.0