Martial artist Donnie yen full name was Donnie Yen Ji-dan. He was a Hong Kong actor, action director and martial artist. Hong Kong’s top action stars Yen was widely credited for the bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the mainstream Asian cinema by choreographing MMA in many of his films since the early 2000s.
Donnie yen was widely known as bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the Asian cinema. He achieved this by introducing MMA as an action choreographer in many films since the early 2000s.
Donnie yen was born in 27th July 1963 at Yuexiu District, Guangzhou Province, China.
Donnie yen mother was ‘Bow-sim Mark’ was the Fu Style “Wudang quan” internal martial arts and the Tai Chi grand master. His father Klyster Yen was the newspaper editor.
Chris Yen was the Donnie yen’s younger sister. She was also the martial artist and the actress. In 2007, she had appeared in the film “Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon”.
Under the influence of his mother, Donnie yen had developed the interest in the martial arts. Later, he had begun experiments with the various styles at the young age that was including Tai chi and the other traditional Chinese martial arts.
Martial artist Donnie yen had focused on the practicing Wushu martial arts seriously at the age of 14 after dropping out of school.
After that his parents sent him to the Beijing on the 4 year training program with the Beijing Wushu Team.
In the year 1984, Donnie yen first step into the film industry with the film “Drunken Tai Chi”.
Donnie yen had made his breakthrough role “General Nap-lan” in “Once Upon a Time in China II” movie in the year 1992.
In the year 1995, Donnie yen had starred in the television series ‘Fist of Fury’ that was produced by the ATV. This title was adapted from the Bruce Lee’s 1972 movie.
Donnie yen reprised his role as the Chen Zhen in the year 2010 film “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen”. In the movie Legend of the Wolf (1997) & Ballistic Kiss (1998) he had played the lead character.
In 1997, Donnie yen had started the production company Bullet Films.
Donnie yen had almost gone to the bankrupt at the age of 34. The Films produced by his own production company “Bullet Films” critically acclaimed. But he did get profits at the box office.
Donnie yen had met his wife in Hong Kong advertising executive Leung Zing-ci in the year 1990. This couple had begun the dating in the year 1990. They had married secretly in the United States in the year 1993 after 3 years of dating. In 1995, they took mutual divorce.
After that, actor Donnie yen married former beauty queen “Cissy Wang” after the 3 months of the dating in the year 2003.
Donnie Yen and his wife Cissy Wang co-founded “Go.Asia” an online charity platform. It was encouraging the people to participate in the charity work and the serve local communities in the year 2012.
In the year 2014 on October Donnie Yen had invited to be the guest speaker in front of the crowd of the 20,000 youths. Here he had spoke about the hardships he had faced growing up. Also he told how he had overcome difficulties to become the reigning martial artist.
In 2002, chinese film director “Zhang Yimou” wanted Donnie Yen to play the role in his Jet Li movie due to his martial arts ability. In this time Jet Li had also personally invited to the Donnie Yen back to the Hollywood.
In the year 2008 Donnie Yen had starred in the “Ip Man” film series. Ip Man had marked Donnie Yen 4th collaboration with the director “Wilson Yip”.
In this time “Ip Man” film series had became the biggest box office hit featuring Donnie Yen in leading role. This film series was grossed $25 million in Hong Kong and 100 million Yuan in China.
In 2016, Donnie Yen had gained International recognition for playing Rouge One movie.
In 2017, he worked in the movie “Xian in XXX: Return of Xander Cage”. In 2020 he worked in the Commander Tung in “Mulan” movie. In 2023, he worked in the movie as Caine role in “John Wick: Chapter 4” movie.
