Roger Winston Tzi-Chun Yuan (born January 25, 1961) is an American martial artist, stuntman, actor, and fight choreographer.
Early life 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. 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.
Though he taught himself 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. 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.
Yuan has also trained in Wing Chun, Muay Thai, taekwondo, and qigong, as well as gymnastics and yoga. He has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Career As of 2024, Yuan has performed stunts in over 40 films, including: Rapid Fire, Escape from L.A., Spawn, Blade, Warcraft, Jason Bourne, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Dune, and Dune: Part Two.
In 2011, he trained Jennifer Lawrence and Jason Flemyng in X-Men: First Class as well as Henry Cavill in Immortals. He also trained Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin.
Yuan's first stunt double stint came in the 1986 film House. 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 Western action-comedy Shanghai Noon alongside Jackie Chan, as the corrupt Imperial Guard Lo Fong; this 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 Sévérine'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'.
Yuan was based in Ireland for 15 years.
In 2016, he starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, the sequel of the successful 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 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.
Personal life Yuan's brother, Ron Yuan, is also a martial artist and stuntman.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1991American Kickboxer Howard 1991The Perfect Weapon Diamond 1991Showdown in Little Tokyo Kickboxer #2 1992Ulterior Motives Yakuza #6 1992American Streetfighter Ito 1992Rage and Honor Dave 1993Shootfighter: Fight to the Death Po 1994Ring of Steel Ninja 1994Death Match Fighter 1994Double Dragon Ninja Wraith 1997Once Upon a Time in China and America Dick 1997Spawn Korean Soldier Uncredited1997Red Corner Huan Minglu 1998Lethal Weapon 4 Chu 2000Shanghai Noon Lo Fong 2001The Silent Force Jimmy Thai 2003Bulletproof Monk Master Monk 2004Home on the Range Additional Voice Voice2005Batman Begins Hazmat Technician2005Syriana Chinese Engineer2005Vampires: The Turning Kiko2008The Fifth Commandment Z2009Chandni Chowk to China Inspector Chiang Kohung2009Black Dynamite Fiendish Dr. Wu2010Shanghai Blue Husband2012Skyfall Severine's Bodyguard #2 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture2013Lua Phat General Long2016Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Iron Crow2018Accident ManSwordmaster2018Blindsided: The GameGordon2018VenomVillage Eel Shop Owner2019John Wick: Chapter 3 – ParabellumHuangUncredited2020MulanDuba Tegin2020The Paper TigersSifu Cheung2021DuneLieutenant LanvilleAlso fight coordinator2023Outlaw Johnny BlackLee2024Dune: Part TwoLieutenant Lanville Also fight coordinator / stunt coordinator
Television Year Title Role Notes1993–2000Walker, Texas Ranger Japanese Karate Student / Chen / Chia Ko / Lazarus 5 episodes1994Vanishing Son Button Man TV movie1994Renegade Glen Kawahowa / The Black Wind Episode: "Black Wind"1997Tracey Takes On... Guard at Palace Episode: "Childhood"1998Brimstone Da Ming Po Episode: "Poem"1999Nash Bridges Mr. Lee Episode: "Girl Trouble"2001The District Tuan Tran Episode: "New World"2002Red Skies Zhao Lo TV movie2003Angel Wo-Pang Season 4; 2 episodes2008Fifth Street Vincent Short film2009Spooks Heng Series 8, Episode 82010CSI: Miami Takashi Yamada Episode: "Die by the Sword"2016Blindsided Gordon Short film2018 Hawaii Five-O Kang Episode: "Ka ‘owili’oka’i (Cocoon)"
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