Age: 62
male
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).
In 1953, Dr. Niles Caulder and his explorer friend Fred Thorpe discover a chimpanzee in Africa whom they name Bobo Thorpe Chimp, shortened to Bobo T. Chimp. Upon returning to America, the two men argue. Caulder wishes to conduct experiments on the creature to make it an intelligent animal, a proposition Thorpe refuses. Fred manages to leave with Bobo and raises him in a carnival, teaching him to solve riddles and pretend to know intimate secrets of the spectators. After Thorpe's murder, Bobo assists the sheriff in finding the culprits, which leads him to meet Rex The Wonder Dog. The two animals journey to Florida, where they find the Fountain of Youth. Through it, both animals gain the ability to speak. Together, Bobo and Rex establish the Bureau of Amplified Animals in the 1980s with the help of Dr. Thirteen and Sam Simeon. In 2005, Bobo, now struggling with alcoholism and running his own detective agency, receives a visit from his old friend Tim Trench before discovering him dead, with Nabu's helmet on his head a few hours later. Bobo then embarks on an investigation to find Tim's killer. Tim's murder also catches the attention of ARGUS. Defying their orders, Bobo conducts the investigation on his own, reforming the Bureau of Amplified Animals in the process. Bobo eventually discovers that Felix Faust is the culprit and manages to have him arrested. This investigation helps Bobo reduce his alcohol consumption and regain his zest for life in memory of his former friend.
