Russell Yuen
- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
Toronto/Montreal-based Russell Yuen is one of Canada's busiest
character actors.
Like most actors Yuen spent his early career doing an assortment of
jobs to make ends meet while he became established. Unlike most actors
it wasn't waiting tables or serving drinks. A dedicated athlete, Yuen
spent his time as a white water rescuer and rafting guide in Northern
Quebec, ran a Nautilus facility and worked as a fitness trainer. Yuen
is also an enthusiastic scuba diver, a mountain and ice-climber, an
in-line skater, a mountain biker and a fencer.
A former martial artist in Shaolin, Yuen used his stunt skills to move
from bit parts, playing Asian gangsters and fighters, into meatier
roles. His breakout opportunity came with The Red Violin and more
feature film parts quickly followed for this versatile young actor
whose skills range from action, to drama, to broad comedy. Other screen
performances include Bulletproof Monk directed by John Woo, Owning
Mahoney and Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity. He has appeared in
Billy Ray's Shattered Glass, David Weaver's Indie feature Century
Hotel; Between the Moon and Montevideo; Phillip Noyce's The Bone
Collector, opposite Denzel Washington; David Mamet's The Heist; Ron
Underwood's Pluto Nash, opposite Eddie Murphy, and Stephan Elliot's Eye
Of The Beholder. Well known to Quebec audiences for his film work Yuen
starred in the Quebec feature film Ballade des Dangereux, directed by
Louis Saia.
Yuen has an extensive list of television credits on both English and
French projects and series. He was most recently featured on the
popular French series Jack Carter, in the recurring role of impotent
mobster "Wong Phat". He has a recurring role in Diva and other recent
television credits include principal roles in: Relic Hunter; The
Associates; A Touch of Hope; and The Adventures of Jules Verne.
Television credits also include multiple appearances in Kung Fu: The
Legend Continues, and roles in Urban Angel, Counterstrike, John Woo's
Once A Thief, and PSI Factor.
Fluently bilingual (French/English) Yuen maintains homes in both
Toronto and Montreal. A fourth-generation Canadian, born and raised in
the Montreal suburbs of St. Laurent and Pierrefond, with deep
connections to Vancouver (all of his extended family live there still),
Yuen was guided by his parents to become a doctor. However, his studies
came to an abrupt halt when a chance Drama elective turned into a
full-time pursuit. After studying Theatre at Concordia University, in
the honors program, he quickly moved into film and television where he
has found continuing success.
character actors.
Like most actors Yuen spent his early career doing an assortment of
jobs to make ends meet while he became established. Unlike most actors
it wasn't waiting tables or serving drinks. A dedicated athlete, Yuen
spent his time as a white water rescuer and rafting guide in Northern
Quebec, ran a Nautilus facility and worked as a fitness trainer. Yuen
is also an enthusiastic scuba diver, a mountain and ice-climber, an
in-line skater, a mountain biker and a fencer.
A former martial artist in Shaolin, Yuen used his stunt skills to move
from bit parts, playing Asian gangsters and fighters, into meatier
roles. His breakout opportunity came with The Red Violin and more
feature film parts quickly followed for this versatile young actor
whose skills range from action, to drama, to broad comedy. Other screen
performances include Bulletproof Monk directed by John Woo, Owning
Mahoney and Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity. He has appeared in
Billy Ray's Shattered Glass, David Weaver's Indie feature Century
Hotel; Between the Moon and Montevideo; Phillip Noyce's The Bone
Collector, opposite Denzel Washington; David Mamet's The Heist; Ron
Underwood's Pluto Nash, opposite Eddie Murphy, and Stephan Elliot's Eye
Of The Beholder. Well known to Quebec audiences for his film work Yuen
starred in the Quebec feature film Ballade des Dangereux, directed by
Louis Saia.
Yuen has an extensive list of television credits on both English and
French projects and series. He was most recently featured on the
popular French series Jack Carter, in the recurring role of impotent
mobster "Wong Phat". He has a recurring role in Diva and other recent
television credits include principal roles in: Relic Hunter; The
Associates; A Touch of Hope; and The Adventures of Jules Verne.
Television credits also include multiple appearances in Kung Fu: The
Legend Continues, and roles in Urban Angel, Counterstrike, John Woo's
Once A Thief, and PSI Factor.
Fluently bilingual (French/English) Yuen maintains homes in both
Toronto and Montreal. A fourth-generation Canadian, born and raised in
the Montreal suburbs of St. Laurent and Pierrefond, with deep
connections to Vancouver (all of his extended family live there still),
Yuen was guided by his parents to become a doctor. However, his studies
came to an abrupt halt when a chance Drama elective turned into a
full-time pursuit. After studying Theatre at Concordia University, in
the honors program, he quickly moved into film and television where he
has found continuing success.