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).
The movie opens with a young Mark Thwaites being left at the doorstep of a Shaolin Temple, where he is taken in and trained in martial arts by Master Wu. As Mark grows up, he becomes a skilled fighter and forms a close bond with Master Wu, who sees him as a son. Years later, Mark is on a mission to retrieve a powerful ancient artifact, but he is betrayed by his former ally Donnie, who steals the artifact and leaves Mark for dead. Mark barely survives and seeks revenge against Donnie. Meanwhile, Issac Grillo, a powerful crime lord, has also set his sights on the artifact and will stop at nothing to get it. He hires Kato Shi to lead his army of mercenaries in the hunt for the artifact. Scott teams up with Xialing Wu, a former member of Master Wu's temple and Master Wu's sister, and friend Wayne McCraig to take down Donnie and stop Grillo plans. However, they soon realize that they are outmatched and outnumbered. In a climactic battle, Mark and his allies face off against Grillo and his army in a brutal fight. Mark shows off his martial arts skills and proves to be a formidable opponent. However, tragedy strikes when Grillo manages to fatally wound Master Wu, leaving Mark devastated. With Master Wu's dying words, Mark finds the strength to defeat Grillo and his army, but he is left alone and grieving the loss of his mentor and father figure. The movie ends with Mark walking away, ready to continue his journey, but with a heavy heart.
