ACF 1572: ACF Happy Birthday wishes to Hong Kong star Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen at the 2012 New York Asian Film Festival

Donnie Yen was born in Canton, China, on July 27, 1963. The martial artist and Hong Kong action star's career began with Yuen Woo-ping 1984's Drunken Tai Chi (1984) and includes nearly 50 films (and several TV series early in his career) to date. Three more of his films are in post-production.

Donnie in the first Ip Man film

One of his most famous recent roles was portraying Bruce Lee's teacher in the two Ip Man films. And indeed the case could be made that while he was well known before, it was with the first Ip Man film in 2008 that his career really began to take off.

Donnie, flying high, in Dragon

Earlier this month Donnie received the Star Asia Award at the 2012 New York Asian Film Festival before the screening of Dragon / Wu Xia ( 2011). In it, at least in my opinion, he showed greater depth and range in his acting then ever before, all the while maintaining the electrifying martial arts action skills that have thrilled audiences for years.

Star Asia award winners Sammo Hung(left) and Donnie Yen in Kill Zone

Another of his films shown at this years NYAFF was Kill Zone (a.k.a. Saat po long or S.P.L., 2005) in which he faced off against Sammo Hung, who received the first Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

So, Happy Birthday wishes, Donnie, and congratulations on receiving the Star Asia Award at this years NYAFF. May many more great rolls and awards come your way in the years to come.

P.S. to all AsianCineFest readers: check out The Official Website of Donnie Yen.