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Roger Yuan

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Roger Yuan
Born
Roger Winston Yuan

(1961-01-25) January 25, 1961 (age 63)
Carbondale, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)Martial arts fight trainer, stunt coordinator, stunt performer, actor
Years active1982–present
RelativesRon Yuan (brother)
Chinese name
Chinese袁之正
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYuán Zhīzhèng

Roger Winston Tzi-Chun Yuan (born January 25, 1961[citation needed]) is an American martial artist, stuntman, actor, and fight choreographer.[1][2]

Early life

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Yuan was born in Carbondale, Illinois to Taiwanese parents Theresa and Joseph Yuan, who were in the United States to study at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale.[3] Yuan was sent back to Taiwan as an infant to live with his grandparents, before moving back to America at the age of 5, living with his parents in New York City. He was inspired to pursue martial arts after seeing Bruce Lee on The Green Hornet.[3]

Though he self-taught karate and judo from manuals, he did not begin a formal martial arts education until the age of 17, when he enrolled in a Kyokushin Karate class.[3] After moving to Los Angeles for college, he enrolled in a Chun Kuk Do dojo under the direction of Chuck Norris' United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF), eventually attaining a fourth dan black belt. He subsequently studied American kickboxing under Benny Urquidez, where he was a sparring partner for Pete "Sugarfoot" Cunningham, and also trained with Bill Wallace and Don "The Dragon" Wilson.[3]

Yuan has also trained in Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Qigong, as well as gymnastics and yoga.[2][3] He has as blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Career

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As of 2024, Yuan has performed stunts in over 40 films, including: Rapid Fire, Escape from L.A., Spawn, Blade,[4] Warcraft, Jason Bourne,[5][6] John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Dune, and Dune: Part Two.

In 2011, he trained Jennifer Lawrence and Jason Flemyng in X-Men: First Class[7] as well as Henry Cavill in Immortals. He also trained Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin.[8]

Yuan's first stunt double stint came in the 1986 film House.[9] His first role as a professional actor is in The Perfect Weapon (1991), Yuan's first credited acting debut is in Red Corner (1997), alongside Richard Gere. He also appeared in Lethal Weapon 4, which is Jet Li's American film debut, as the role of Chu, a Chinese Triad gangster. In 2000, he played the main antagonist in the action-comedy Shanghai Noon alongside Jackie Chan, as the corrupt Imperial Guard Lo Fong, the role helped him become popular with audiences. In 2003, he appeared in the beginning of Bulletproof Monk, playing Chow Yun-fat's master. In Batman Begins, he appeared as the Hazmat Technician alongside Gary Oldman and as the Chinese Engineer in Syriana. In Skyfall, he also trained Daniel Craig and had a role as the Severine's bodyguard. Yuan also appeared in many TV series, including Walker Texas Ranger, where he played multiple characters, with his most famous role being Lazarus in the episodes 'The Winds of Change' and 'Lazarus'.[10]

For fifteen years Yuan was based in Ireland.[11]

In 2016, he starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, the sequel of the successful 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.[citation needed] Besides working in the film industry, he also was invited by Country singer Tim McGraw to get him in shape for his 2012 Brothers of the Sun Tour.[12]

Personal life

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Yuan's brother, Ron Yuan, is also a martial artist and stuntman.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 American Kickboxer Howard
1991 The Perfect Weapon Diamond
1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo Kickboxer #2
1992 Ulterior Motives Yakuza #6
1992 American Streetfighter Ito
1992 Rage and Honor Dave
1993 Shootfighter: Fight to the Death Po
1994 Ring of Steel Ninja
1994 Death Match Fighter
1994 Double Dragon Ninja Wraith
1997 Once Upon a Time in China and America Dick
1997 Spawn Korean Soldier Uncredited
1997 Red Corner Huan Minglu
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Chu
2000 Shanghai Noon Lo Fong
2001 The Silent Force Jimmy Thai
2003 Bulletproof Monk Master Monk
2004 Home on the Range Additional Voice Voice
2005 Batman Begins Hazmat Technician
2005 Syriana Chinese Engineer
2005 Vampires: The Turning Kiko
2008 The Fifth Commandment Z
2009 Chandni Chowk to China Inspector Chiang Kohung
2009 Black Dynamite Fiendish Dr. Wu
2010 Shanghai Blue Husband
2012 Skyfall Severine's Bodyguard #2 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
2013 Lua Phat General Long
2016 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Iron Crow
2018 Accident Man Swordmaster
2018 Blindsided: The Game Gordon
2018 Venom Village Eel Shop Owner
2019 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Huang Uncredited
2020 Mulan Duba Tegin
2020 The Paper Tigers Sifu Cheung
2021 Dune Lieutenant Lanville Also fight coordinator
2023 Outlaw Johnny Black Lee
2024 Dune: Part Two Lieutenant Lanville Also fight coordinator / stunt coordinator

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993–2000 Walker, Texas Ranger Japanese Karate Student / Chen / Chia Ko / Lazarus 5 episodes
1994 Vanishing Son Button Man TV movie
1994 Renegade Glen Kawahowa / The Black Wind Episode: "Black Wind"
1997 Tracey Takes On... Guard at Palace Episode: "Childhood"
1998 Brimstone Da Ming Po Episode: "Poem"
1999 Nash Bridges Mr. Lee Episode: "Girl Trouble"
2001 The District Tuan Tran Episode: "New World"
2002 Red Skies Zhao Lo TV movie
2003 Angel Wo-Pang Season 4; 2 episodes
2008 Fifth Street Vincent Short film
2009 Spooks Heng Series 8, Episode 8
2010 CSI: Miami Takashi Yamada Episode: "Die by the Sword"
2016 Blindsided Gordon Short film

References

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  1. ^ "Roger Yuan: Character Through Action". The Entertainment Section. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  2. ^ a b "Roger Yuan". DemoReel. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e Youseph, Ramon (2021-03-12). "Interview with Roger Yuan". Kung-fu Kingdom. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  4. ^ Fogarty, Mary (March 6, 2013), "Karate club welcomes Hollywood stunt man", The Independent, retrieved May 29, 2017
  5. ^ Andrews, Kenai (December 7, 2016), "Jason Bourne's Roger Yuan opens up on fight scenes, working with Matt Damon", MMA Crossfire, retrieved May 29, 2017
  6. ^ "Action Reel - Roger Yuan", Demoreel.com, retrieved May 29, 2017
  7. ^ How Roger Yuan Trains Actors For Their Roles As Super Heroes. June 19, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2017 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Brennan, Laura (March 29, 2017). "Stunt School Ireland Host Bourne Experience Course With Roger Yuan". IFTN. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "Roger Yuan". LinkedIn. June 19, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  10. ^ Kurchak, Sarah (November 4, 2015), "How Daniel Craig Developed James Bond's Fighting Skills", Vice, retrieved May 29, 2017
  11. ^ Kenai Andrews (December 7, 2016). "Jason Bourne's Roger Yuan opens up on fight scenes, working with Matt Damon". MMA Crossfire.
  12. ^ Miller, Gregory E. (31 October 2019). "How Tim McGraw went from 'inflated and doughy' to ripped". New York Post.
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