Donnie Yen Biography
Donnie Yen was born as Yen Tze-dan (also known as Donnie Yen Ji-dan) on 27 July 1963. he is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director, producer, action choreographer, stuntman and multiple-time world wushu tournament champion.
Yen is credited by many for contributing to the popularisation of Wing Chun. He played Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the 2008 film Ip Man, which was a box office success. This has led to an increase in the number of people taking up Wing Chun, leading to hundreds of new Wing Chun schools being opened up in mainland China and other parts of Asia.
Ip Chun, the eldest son of Ip Man, even mentioned that he is grateful to Yen for making his family’s art popular and allowing his father’s legacy to be remembered. He has also gained international recognition for playing Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Xiang in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017).
Donnie Yen is one of Hong Kong’s top action stars. Yen has displayed skill in an array of martial arts, being well-versed in Tai Chi, Boxing, Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, Taekwondo, Karate, and Muay Thai, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wing Chun, and Wushu. One of the most popular films stars in Asia in the early 2000s, Yen is consistently one of the highest-paid actors in Asia. Yen earned HK$220 million (US$28.4 million) from four films and six advertisements in 2013.
10 Quick Facts About Donnie Yen
- Name: Donnie Yen
- Age: 58 years
- Birthday: 27th July
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches
- Birth sign: Leo
- Occupation: Actor
- Nationality: Chinese
- Marital Status: Married to Cissy Wang
- Famous For: playing Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Xiang in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017).
- Net Worth: $1 to $ 5 Million
Donnie Yen Age
Yen is 58 years as of 2021. He was born on 27 July 1963 in Guangzhou, China. Donnie celebrates his birthday on 27th July every year. His birth sign is Leo.
Donnie Yen Height
Yen stands at the height of 5 feet 8 inches or 1.7 meters.
Donnie Yen Weight
Donnie weighs 165 pounds which is equivalent to 74 kgs.
Donnie Yen Education
There is not much information about Donnie’s educational background. All that we know is that he dropped out of school at age 14 to pursue his passion in martial arts.
Donnie Yen Family
Yen was born to his parents in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, is a Fu Style Wudangquan and Tai Chi grandmaster, and his father Klyster Yen (甄雲龍), was a newspaper editor.
When he was two years old, his family moved to Hong Kong and then to the United States, settling in Boston when he was 11. He has a younger sister, Chris Yen, who is also a martial artist and actress, and has appeared in the 2007 film Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon.
Yen developed an interest in martial arts, something he says was influenced by his mom, and began trying out various styles, including t’ai chi and other traditional Chinese martial arts.
Yen also came from a family of musicians. His mother is a soprano, in addition to being a martial arts teacher in Boston, while his father is a violinist. From a young age, he was taught by his parents to play musical instruments, including the piano. He also knows hip-hop dancing and breakdancing.
Donnie Yen Mother, Bow Sim Mark
Donnie’s mom Bow-sim Mark (born 1942) is a martial arts grandmaster who lives in Newton, Massachusetts, US. She began studying martial arts in elementary school, training seriously in high school, and then at Wushu training schools, specializing in t’ai chi ch’uan and Northern Shaolin.
Donnie Yen Sister, Chris Yen
Yen’s sister Chris Yen Tze-ching (born August 4, 1974) is a Hong Kong martial artist and actress. She is younger than Donnie. Chris is best known for her roles in the films Protégé de la Rose Noire, Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon, and Give ‘Em Hell, Malone.
Donnie Yen Wife
Donnie Yen met his first wife, Leung Zing-ci, in 1990. The couple began dating in 1993. After three months of dating, they married secretly in the United States in November 1993. The marriage was over in less than a year. After their divorce was finalized, Leung realized that she was pregnant with their son, Jeff, who was born in 1995.
He later married former beauty queen Cissy Wang after three months of dating who is 18 years younger than him. The couple has two children, Jasmine and James. According to the multitalented entertainer, he would prefer being called unprofessional than upset his wife by taking up scenes that would involve bedroom activities.
He further expressed that he obligated himself to avoid any scene that has to do with intimacy since his marriage to Cissy. Adding that he makes effort to spend quality time with his wife, this bloke asserted that Cissy is his proverbial pillow and, that all his pains disappear once she’s around him.
Yen has stated that he is a big fan of the MMA organization Ultimate Fighting Championship and has watched almost every UFC event available. In various interviews, he has mentioned that he would have loved to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship if he did not have a recurring shoulder injury.
Donnie Yen Children
Donnie Yen’s children include Jasmine Yen(born in 2004 (age 15 years)), James Yen(Born in 2007 (age 12 years)), and Man-Zeok Yen(Born in 1995 (age 24 years)).
Donnie Yen Net Worth
Yen has an estimated net worth of $40 Million as of 2022. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as an actor. Through his various sources of income, he has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Donnie Yen Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Yen.
Donnie Yen Wiki
- Full Names:
- Popular As:
- Gender: Male.
- Occupation / Profession: Actor
- Nationality: Chinese
- Race / Ethnicity: Under review
- Religion: Not Known.
- Sexual Orientation: Straight.
Donnie Yen Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 58 Years Old.
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Date of Birth: 27 July 1963
- Place of Birth: Guangzhou, China.
- Birthday: July 27th
Donnie Yen Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Pending Update.
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 8 inches
- Weight: 774 kgs or 165 pounds
- Eye Color: Dark brown
- Hair Color: Black.
- Shoe Size: Pending Update.
Donnie Yen Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad):
- Mother:
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): One sister
- Marital Status: Married
- Ex-Wife / Spouse: Married to Cissy Wang
- Children: Sons (Two) Daughter(s) (One).
Yen Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $40 million dollars as of 2022.
- Salary: Under Review.
- Source of Income: Acting Career
Donnie Yen Actor
Yen’s first step into the film industry was in 1984 when he landed his first starring role in the 1984 film Drunken Tai Chi. After filming Drunken Tai Chi and Tiger Cage (1988), Yen made his breakthrough role as General Nap-lan in Once Upon a Time in China II (1992), which included a fight scene between his character and Wong Fei-hung (played by Jet Li).
Yen had a starring role in the film Iron Monkey in 1993. Yen and Li appeared together again in the 2002 film, Hero, where Yen played a spear (or Qiang) fighter who fought with Li’s character, an unnamed swordsman. The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2003 Academy Awards.
Donnie Yen Company
In 1997, Yen started the production company Bullet Films, and made his directorial debut in Legend of the Wolf (1997) and Ballistic Kiss (1998), in which he played the lead character. At age 34, Yen almost went bankrupt. Films produced by his own production company and directed by him were critically acclaimed but did not do well at the box office. Yen was forced to borrow money from loan sharks and his production crew to get by.
Donnie Yen Hollywood Actor
Yen went back to the United States, where he was invited to choreograph fight scenes in Hollywood films, such as Highlander: Endgame (2000) and Blade II (2002). His choreography and skills impressed the directors, and they invited him for cameo appearances in both movies.
In 2002, Jet Li was filming the movie Hero and insisted to the director that he wanted Yen to play the role of Sky, his adversary, due to Yen’s martial arts ability. Li personally invited Yen back from Hollywood to star in the movie, marking the second time the two actors appeared onscreen together since Once Upon a Time in China II ten years earlier. In 2003, Yen played the antagonist against Jackie Chan in Shanghai Knights.
Yen choreographed most of the fight animation in the 2004 video game Onimusha 3, which featured actors Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jean Reno. Yen continued to be active in the Hong Kong cinema in the 2000s, starring as Chu Zhaonan in Tsui Hark’s wuxia epic film Seven Swords, and as Ma Kwun in Wilson Yip’s brutal crime drama film SPL: Sha Po Lang in 2005.
Both films were featured at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Later that year, Yen co-starred with Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue in Wilson Yip’s Dragon Tiger Gate, an adaptation of Wong Yuk-long’s manhua series Oriental Heroes. Yen also worked as an action choreographer in Stormbreaker, starring Alex Pettyfer.
Yen continued to work with Wilson Yip in Flash Point (2007), in which he starred as the lead character and served as producer and action choreographer for the film. He won the award for Best Action Choreography at the Golden Horse Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards for his performance in Flash Point.
In 2016, Yen co-starred in the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One as Chirrut Îmwe, the Zatoichi-like blind transient warrior. On February 12, 2016, it was confirmed that Yen would replace Jet Li in the role of Xiang in the upcoming action film xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
Donnie Yen The Expendables 2
In August 2011, while Yen was on a vacation with his family in the United States, he reportedly received an invitation by producer Avi Lerner to star in The Expendables 2. It was stated that Yen was considering the offer, had many films at hand, and would wait until deciding whether the script appealed to him.] Later on, Yen revealed to the Hong Kong media that he had rejected the role.
Donnie Yen XXX Return Of Xander Cage
While Yen was filming xXx: Return of Xander Cage in Canada, he received many offers from Hollywood studios and directors. At the same time, Hong Kong director Wong Jing personally flew to Canada to invite Yen to star in his film Chasing the Dragon, a remake of the award-winning film To be Number One.
In September 2017, Chasing the Dragon was released with extremely positive reviews from critics, citing Yen’s versatility as an actor and his incredible portrayal of the late Ng Sek Ho, the main character of the film. Chasing the Dragon was also a huge hit with audiences in most parts of Asia. In Hong Kong, Chasing the Dragon is ranked as one of the top 5 Hong Kong films in 2017.
In 2017, Yen received a call from old friend Jet Li and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma about a potential collaboration on a short martial arts film known as Gong Shou Dao – to promote a new form of Taiji as an Olympic sport in the future.
Donnie yen was on holiday with his wife to celebrate their anniversary but canceled his plans to take part in the film. Yen declined any salary for this participation for GSD as he stated that “friendship is not measured by money” and that he hopes his participation can help promote Chinese martial arts to worldwide audiences.
In return, Jet Li and Jack Ma surprised Yen and his wife Cissy, by helping to celebrate their wedding anniversary on the set. The full GSD 20 minutes short film was released on 11 November – China’s Singles’ Day, debuting on Youku and Jet Li’s official Facebook page, garnering a total of more than 100 million views worldwide. Netizens in China praised Yen’s speed and technique in the film, with most audiences (over 190,000) voting Yen as the highlight of the short film. In late 2017, Yen began filming Big Brother.
Donnie Yen Ip Man
In 2008, Yen starred in Ip Man, a semi-biographical account of Ip Man, the Wing Chun master of Bruce Lee. Ip Man marked Yen’s fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip, reuniting him with his co-stars in SPL: Sha Po Lang, Sammo Hung, and Simon Yam. Ip Man became the biggest box office hit to date featuring Yen in the leading role, grossing HK$25 million in Hong Kong and 100 million yuan in China.
Donnie Yen Ip Man 4
Ip Man 4 is an upcoming Hong Kong biographical martial arts film directed by Wilson Yip and produced by Raymond Wong. It is the fourth in the Ip Man film series based on the life of the Wing Chun grandmaster of the same name and features Donnie Yen reprising the role. The film began production in April 2018 and ended in July the same year.
Plot
Ip Man arrives in San Francisco, the United States where his student, Bruce Lee, has upset the local martial arts community by opening a Wing Chun school.
Donnie Yen Movies
1. Ip Man 2008
2. 14 Blades 2010
3. Ip Man 2 2010
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016
5. Ip Man 3 2015
6. xXx: Return of Xander Cage 2017
7. Dragon 2011
8. SPL: Sha Po Lang 2005
9. Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen 2010
10. Special ID 2013
11. Kung Fu Killer 2014
12. Iceman 2014
13. In The Line Of Duty 4 1989
14. Drunken Tai Chi 1984
15. The Monkey King 2014
16. Flash Point 2007
17. Iron Monkey 1993
18. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny 2016
19. Wing Chun 1994
20. Once Upon a Time in China II 1992
22. Blade II 2002
23. Legend of the Wolf 1996
24. Hero 2002
25. Bodyguards and Assassins 2009
26. Dragon Tiger Gate 2006
27. The Lost Bladesman 2011
28. Shanghai Knights 2003
29. An Empress and the Warriors 2008
30. Painted Skin 2008
31. Tiger Cage 2 1990
32. Seven Swords 2005
33. Chasing the Dragon 2017
34. Master Z: Ip Man Legacy 2018
35. Highlander: Endgame 2000
36. Gong Shou Dao 2017
36. Butterfly and Sword 1993
37. New Dragon Gate Inn 1992
38. Heroes Among Heroes 1993
39. Mismatched Couples 1985
40. Iceman: The Time Traveller 2018
41. Iron Monkey 2 1996
42. All’s Well, Ends Well 2012
43. Ballistic Kiss 1998
44. Satan Returns 1996
45. The Twins Effect II 2004
46. Holy Virgin Vs. The Evil Dead 1991
45. Shanghai Affairs 1998
47. Revenge of the Kung Fu Master 1994
48. The Founding of a Republic 2009
49. Cheetah on Fire 1992
Frequently Asked Questions About Donnie Yen
Who is Donnie Yen?
Donnie Yen was born as Yen Tze-dan (also known as Donnie Yen Ji-dan) on 27 July 1963. he is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director, producer, action choreographer, stuntman and multiple-time world wushu tournament champion.
How old is Donnie Yen?
Yen is 58 years as of 2021. He was born on 27 July 1963 in Guangzhou, China. Donnie celebrates his birthday on 27th July every year.
How tall is Donnie Yen?
Yen stands at the height of 5 feet 8 inches or 1.7 meters.
Is Donnie Yen married?
Yen is married former beauty queen Cissy Wang after three months of dating who is 18 years younger than him. The couple has two children, Jasmine and James.
How much is Donnie Yen worth?
Damian has a net worth of $40 million dollars as of 2022. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.
How much does Donnie Yen make?
According to our reliable sources, Donnie’s annual salary is currently under review. Nevertheless, we are keeping tabs and will update you once this information is available.
Where does Yen live?
Because of security reasons, Donnie has not shared his precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of his house.
Is Donnie dead or alive?
Yen is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Where is Donnie Now?
Yen is still an active participant in the creative entertainment industry. He is still pursuing his career as an actor.
Donnie Yen Contacts
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