Donnie Yen

Also known as Donnie Yen Ji-dan, Yen Chi-Tan

Hong Kong actor, film director and martial artist

AI overview

Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, film director, and martial artist who has become an internationally recognized figure in action cinema. He matters because he has significantly influenced how martial arts are choreographed and portrayed in modern films, blending traditional techniques with innovative filmmaking approaches.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Born: 1963
Works: 1

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Guangzhou, 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…

Known for

You are the Best — Alex Yang2025
The Prosecutor — Fok Chi Ho2024
John Wick: Chapter 4 — Caine2023
Sakra — Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng2023
Crush Over2023
New Kung Fu Cult Master — Zhang Sanfeng2022
New Kung Fu Cult Master 2 — Zhang Sanfeng2022
Polar Rescue — A De2022
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins — Sun Wukong / Monkey King2022

Article

Donnie Yen Chi-tan (Chinese: 甄子丹; Jyutping: jan zi daan; 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.