Award
Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa 榮譽人文學博士
Year of Award
2025
Biography
Mr Donnie Yen is an international action star, director, and producer. He was born in Guangzhou, China, and raised in Hong Kong and Boston. Trained by his mother, renowned kung fu grandmaster Bow-sim Mark, as a teenager, he explored diverse disciplines - karate, taekwondo, boxing, and even hip-hop dance - forging a unique style blending techniques of East and West. This signature fusion revolutionised action cinema.
Mr Yen’s portrayal of Ip Man elevated him to global stardom. The Ip Man series (2008-2019) became a cultural phenomenon, celebrating Wing Chun and Chinese heritage as well as breaking box office records. Mr Yen also brought legendary Chinese heroes to life, and introduced wuxia to global audiences, bridging Eastern and Western storytelling.
In Hollywood, Mr Yen infused Western films with his dynamic style and also elevated the stature of Chinese actors in international cinema, proving Chinese actors can dominate Hollywood’s biggest stages with dignity and artistry. In The Prosecutor (2024), Mr Yen took on the roles of producer, director, and actor, successfully blending traditional legal drama with action sequences, and showcasing his talent as a versatile filmmaker.
Mr Yen’s accolades - multiple Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Action Choreography, Golden Horse Awards, Huabiao Awards and the Taurus Award - show his visionary approach. In 2016, he was honoured with imprints of his hands and feet at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, cementing his legacy as a global action icon. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Mr Yen has dedicated decades to humanitarian causes, and is a long-standing ambassador of charity organisations Save the Children and Po Leung Kuk. In 2020, he and his wife Ms Cissy Wang founded the Y.E.N. Charity Foundation, which contributes directly to Youth, the Elderly, and the Needy.
Mr Yen was awarded Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa.
Mr Donnie Yen 甄子丹先生