Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen born July 27, 1963 in Guangzhou, China. When he was 2 years old, the family moved to Hong Kong. His father, Clister Yen, worked as a newspaper editor, and his mother, Mai Baochan, practiced Tai Chi and wanted to open her own Wushu school in Hong Kong, but this did not happen. Donnie's parents moved to Boston, USA, when he was 11 years old, and there his mother founded Chinese Wushu Research Institute, which soon became one of the most popular in all of America.

His mother played a key role in introducing young Donnie to the world of martial arts. After starting Wushu at her school, he studied various styles, including Tai Chi and Wing Chun. Already in his teens, he paid serious attention to martial arts, constantly looking for new techniques, which he then honed in training. He competed in wushu and won a gold medal at the Boston Combat School. During the same period, he began to practice taekwondo, which eventually led him to a black belt in this discipline.

In the early 80s, Donnie Yen actively visited the so-called “Fight Zone” in the suburbs of Boston, where illegal fights without rules were held. In this environment, he met representatives of the triads, who took him under their wing. Donnie's life has changed dramatically: nightclubs, girls and crime have become an integral part of it. It is unknown what this would have led to if not for the intervention of his parents, who, fearing for their son’s future, sent him to Beijing at the age of 16.

In Beijing, he joined the national wushu team, whose coach was a famous master Woo Bin, who also coached Jet Li и Jackie Wu. Ian studied under his leadership for about three years.

Upon completion of his studies, he decided to return to the United States, but his path lay through Hong Kong. It was there that he accidentally got to the casting of the film “Drunk tai chi” (1984). Film director, Yuen Wu-ping, was an old acquaintance of his mother and allowed Donny to try his hand at casting. For two minutes the camera crew watched his impressive sparring, and U-pin offered him the lead role in the film, as well as a place on his stunt team. This fortuitous twist of fate marked the beginning of Donnie Yen's film career.

Later, Ian starred in other films U-Pina - "Odd couples” (1985),"Tiger cage” (1988),"When performing 4” (1989) and “Tiger Cage 2” (1990). The first part of “Tiger Cage” delighted the viewer, which gave a good boost to the young actor’s career.

In 1992, Donnie played an iconic role in the film “Once Upon a Time in China 2” Tsui Harka, in which he fought with Jet Li. For this role, he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards. The same year he starred in the films “Dragon Tavern” And "Fire Cheetah” .

In 1993 the film “Butterfly and sword” , and "Iron Monkey” And "A hero among heroes“, in which Ian again collaborated with the director U-pinem. This collaboration continued the following year with the film “Wing Chun“. At the same time, he starred in “Circus performers” ,"Unsurpassed kung fu master” Benny Chan, and first tried himself as a director with the film “High voltage” .

In 1995, Yen played the role of Chen Zhen in the television series “Fist of Fury: Oath of Vengeance“, adapted from the 1972 film of the same name with Bruce Lee. The series became a hit. During the same period, the action comedy “Everything for the winner 2” .

A sequel was released in 1996.Iron Monkey“, in which he played together with Billy Chow, and horrorReturn of Satan” .

In 1997, Ian founded a production company Bullet Films and released films under its banner “Big Boss 2” (1997),"Ballistic Kiss” (1998),"Shanghai fighter” (1998), playing the main roles in them. Despite the fact that these works received good reviews from critics, they were not a box office success and brought Ian to the brink of bankruptcy.

Ian later returned to the United States, where he was invited to choreograph fight scenes in Hollywood films such as “Highlander 4: End Game” (2000) and “Blade 2” (2002). His choreography and skills impressed the directors, and they invited him to play cameo roles in both films.

In 2002 year Jet Li starred in the filmHero” and insisted that Ian play the role of his antagonist due to his martial arts abilities. He personally invited Ian, which led to the two actors' second appearance together on screen after a 10-year break. The film was a huge success not only in Asia, but also abroad.

In 2003, Donnie again starred in a negative role in the film “Shanghai Knights”С Jackie Chan, this was their first collaboration. In the same year, he did fight choreography in the film with Chan “Gemini“. The following year the films “Broke love” And "Huadu Chronicles: Blade of the Rose” .

2005 was quite a prolific year for Ian. He starred in the films “Kung Fu Master” ,"Seven Swords” And "SPL Stars of Destiny”С Sammo Hoon и Jackie Wu, which became very successful. Yen won the award for Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Ian’s next outstanding work as a fight choreographer and cinematographer was the action film “Hot spot” 2005. According to many critics, this picture became not only his best work, but also a cult film of combat cinema. For this project, Donnie seriously expanded his martial arts skills, delving into mixed martial arts, judo and taekwondo.

The following year saw the release of commercially successful films “Painted skin” ,"Empress and warriors” And "Yip Man“. A painting about a legendary teacher Bruce Lee Wilson Yip was one of the most difficult for Ian, and as a result, due to its enormous success, it became associated with his name, receiving 3 more sequels.

In 2009, Donny starred in the films “All is well that ends well” ,"Bodyguards and Assassins” And "Founding of China“. And also this year a documentary film was released with him “How Bruce Lee changed the world” .

In 2010, the premiere of the sequel “Ip Man 2“, in which Ian’s main antagonist was the hero Darren Shahlavi. This was also another collaboration with Sammo Hoon, which continued in the next film - “14 blades“. The same year, he returned to his role Chen Zhen in the film “Fist of Legend: The Return of Chen Zhen” .

In 2011, Donnie appeared in the films “The Lost Blademaster” And "Swordsmen“, and also tried on a comic role in the film “All's well that ends well 2011“, which he repeated the following year.

In 2013, two films with Ian’s participation were released - melodrama “Together” and action movie"Special Personality“, in which he also played Andy He. "Special ID” received good reviews from critics.

In 2014, fantasy films were released “monkey king” And "Ice Comet 3D” for IMAX, action movie"Last of the Best” and comedy"Golden Chick 3” .

In 2015, Ian appeared in the epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” together with Michelle Yeoh and the next sequel “Ip Man 3”С Mike Tyson as the main villain. The third part of the franchise was the weakest of all, but it did not fail.

In 2016, Donnie replaced Jet Li, who was unable to take part in the filming of the action “Xxx: World Domination“, he also got a role in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Stories” and played in the sequel “Monkey King(I.e.The beginning of the legend“. The participation of the Chinese film fighter in the Star Wars universe caused delight among the viewer.

In 2017-2018 he played in the crime drama “Chasing dragons“, sequel “Ice Comet 3D 2“, comedy “Big Brother“, and a short film by Jack Ma “Guardians of Martial Arts“, along with other stars.

In 2019, the premiere of the fourth part of the franchise took place.Yip Man“, in which Ian fought with the famous British film fighter Scott Adkins. The film received good reviews from critics and audiences, and also became successful at the box office thanks to the participation of such high-level artists.

And in 2020 he collaborated again with Jet Li in the picture “Mulan” and starred in the action comedy “Exit the Fat Dragon” .

Movies released from 2021 to 2022Crossfire” ,"New Kung Fu Master” ,"Come back home” And "Shakra“, in which, in addition to the role, Ian also shared the director’s chair with Kam Ka-Wayem.

In 2023, Donnie Yen successfully played one of the key roles along with Scott Adkins in a blockbuster Chad Stahelski "John Wick 4“. The action movie and its hero in particular were so popular with the viewer that a year later it was announced spin-off of “John Wick”, starring Ian.

Among the current projects with the highest paid Chinese movie fighter, in addition to the spin-off “John Wick”, there are also sequels "Hot spot" And "Ip Man” and action movie"Prosecutor” .