Donny Yen was born on July 27, 1963, in Taishan, Guangdong, China. When Yen was two years old, his family relocated to Hong Kong, and subsequently to Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States, when he was eleven. Klyster Yen, Yen's father, was a well-known martial artist, and his mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a Kung Fu expert.
Yen began martial arts training at a young age and earned his black belt in Wushu at the age of 18. When Yen enrolled in the Beijing Wushu Academy in 1982, he resumed his martial arts training.
Yen worked as a martial arts instructor and choreographer in Hong Kong after graduating from the academy.
Yen's acting career began in 1984 with the film Drunken Tai Chi.
Yen has since appeared in over 60 films, including the iconic Ip Man series. Yen's performance in Ip Man gained him great accolades and cemented his position as one of the world's best martial arts actors.
Yen has also directed and produced several films, including Bodyguards and Assassins, which received critical praise. Yen has appeared on television and in video games in addition to his film work. He is now working on the film Ip Man 4.