Donnie Yen: Biography Full Name: Donnie Yen Ji-dan (甄子丹) Born: July 27, 1963 Birthplace: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Nationality: Chinese-American Profession: Martial artist, actor, director, producer, action choreographer Early Life Donnie Yen was born into a family with a strong connection to martial arts and music. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a martial arts master, and his father, Klyster Yen, was a newspaper editor and amateur musician. The family moved to Hong Kong when Yen was two years