Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee - Atheists/Agnostics, Birthday and Family

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Bruce Lee Biography Stories 

Bruce Lee's Personal Details

Bruce Lee was one of the most iconic martial arts instructors who elevated the popularity of the combat practice in the world

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 27, 1940
Died onJuly 20, 1973
NationalityChinese, American
FamousAtheists, Atheists/Agnostics, Died Young, University Of Washington, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Martial Artists, ISTP
City/StateCalifornia
SpousesLinda Lee Cadwell
SiblingsAgnes Lee, Peter Lee, Phoebe Lee, Robert Lee
ChildrensBrandon Lee, Shannon Lee
Universities
  • University Of Washington
  • Seattle Central Community College (1959 – 1960)
  • La Salle College (1956)
  • St. Francis Xavier's College
  • University of Washington
Notable Alumnis
  • University Of Washington
Cause of death
  • Drug Overdose
Birth PlaceSan Francisco
Born CountryUnited States
EpitaphsFounder of Jeet Kune Do. In memory of a once fluid man crammed and distorted by the classical mess.
GenderMale
FatherLee Hoi-chuen
MotherGrace Ho
Net Worth$10 million
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inSan Francisco
Famous asActor, Martial Artist
Died at Age32

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Bruce Lee's photo

Who is Bruce Lee?

Joe Lewis quote, “If Bruce Lee wasn't the greatest martial artist of all time, then certainly he is the number one candidate” suffices Bruce Lee’s contribution as a martial artist to the world. A film actor and instructor of the combat practices, he gained a worldwide status in a short span of life and soon became one of the most influential martial artists of all time. Born in an affluent family, Lee gained entry into films long before he realized the same and soon became a famous child actor. Acting and martial arts went hand in hand as he turned to a martial art instructor. However, it was his relocation to Hong Kong and association with films that elevated the popularity of both him as an actor and martial arts as a combat practice. His films created box office records, eventually changing the way martial arts and films related to it were looked upon by the world. Lee is accredited with the formulation of Jeet Kune Do, (The Way of the Intercepting Fist), a new form of martial art which was quite different from the traditional and rigid form in matters of practicality, flexibility, speed, and efficiency. A further reading will brief you about his life and profile in detail.

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Childhood & Early Life

Bruce Lee was born to Lee Hoi-chuen and Grace Ho in San Francisco's Chinatown. When he was three months old, his family relocated to Hong Kong. He had four siblings

Despite being raised in an affluent family, he was involved in a lot of street fights and gang rivalries which urged the need to be trained in martial arts. His first tutor was his father, under whom he learned the basics.

By the age of 13, he started his Wing Chun training under Yip Man. His mixed ancestry led him to learn the art of Wing Chun privately from Yip Man and Wong Shun Leung.

Academically, he received his preliminary education from La Salle College, but poor marks resulted in his being transferred to St. Francis Xavier's College.

His continuous involvement in street fight led to his relocation to San Francisco in 1959, as his parents were deeply disturbed by his violent behaviour and wanted him to leave Hong Kong to pursue a safer and healthier avenue.

After putting up in San Francisco for a few months, he moved to Seattle where he enrolled at the Edison Technical School to complete his further education. Meanwhile, he worked as a live-in waiter for Ruby Chow’s restaurant.

He enrolled at the University of Washington in 1961, where he majored in drama.

Career

Much before he learned to utter monosyllabic words as a baby, his career had kick-started, owing to the film-background of his father, who was a Cantonese opera star. He was only three months old when he starred in his first film, ‘Golden Gate Girl’.

Ever since his launch into the world of showbiz, his early years of life were eventful. A born actor (quite literally as well), his acting skills polished with every film. By the time he turned 18, he was 20 films old.

From 1959 until 1964, he gave up his acting career to pursue a vocation in martial arts. He started off as a teacher of Kung Fu. With time, he opened his own martial arts school, Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, in Seattle.

In 1964, he dropped out of college to join James Lee, a famous martial arts instructor on Oakland. Together, the two opened a second institute, Jun Fan Martial Art Studio in the city.

He participated in the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships, which popularized him for his ‘two-finger push-ups’ and ‘one inch punch’. It was there that he met Taekwondo master Jhoon Goo Rhee, a friendship that formed instantly and benefitted both artists. He performed in the 1967 event as well.

Meanwhile, in 1964, he had a private match with Wong Jack Man, which he won. Though the result of the match was unanimously declared, there are two versions about the proceedings of it.

His extraordinary performance in Long Beach Karate Championship brought him under the limelight of Hollywood directors. His first stint of acting as a matured adult was in the TV series ‘The Green Hornet’. The show lasted for one season from 1966 until 1967.

From 1967 until 1969, he made guest appearance in few more television series including ‘Ironside’, ‘Here Comes the Brides’ and ‘Blondie’.

In between acting, he found time and started concentrating on martial arts. He realized that traditional martial arts technique were too rigid and that a new system that had traits of practicality, flexibility, speed, and efficiency needed to be devised. This was when Jeet Kune Do or the Way of the Intercepting Fist was formulated.

In 1969, he made a guest appeared in the film, ‘Marlowe’. However, biasness and dearth of key roles resulted in him leaving Los Angeles for Hong Kong in the summer of 1971.

Upon arriving at Hong Kong, he signed a two film contract. First to release was ‘The Big Boss’, which had him in the lead role. The film was a major hit but was soon surpassed by his next film, ‘Fists of Fury’, which went onto become a grand success.

With the 1972 film, ‘Way of the Dragon’, he turned from being merely an actor to the writer, director, star, and choreographer of the fight scenes. Same year, he was offered ‘Enter the Dragon’, which was the first joint venture of Golden Harvest and Warner Bros.

‘Enter the Dragons’ was slated for a July 26, 1973 release. However, just six days before its premier, he passed away.

Major Works

An iconic martial arts performer, he performed in a number of television shows and films. However, the film that gained the most limelight and made him a ‘hero’ in the West as well was the Golden Harvest and Warner Bros production, ‘Enter the Dragon’. The film grossed about $200 million worldwide.

Awards & Achievements

Posthumously, he was listed in the Time Magazine list of ‘100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century’.

In 2013, he was conferred with the prestigious Founders Award at The Asian Awards. Same year, a statue of him was unveiled in Los Angeles' Chinatown. Standing 7-foot tall, the statue was made in Guangzhou, China and proudly serves as the testament of his accomplishments as a martial arts instructor.

Personal Life & Legacy

While studying at the University of Washington, he met Linda Emery, with whom he tied the knot in August 1964. The couple was blessed with two children, Brandon Lee and Shannon Lee.

On May 10, 1973, he collapsed suddenly, while dubbing for ‘Enter the Dragon’ after suffering from seizures and headaches. Immediately, he was rushed to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, where he was diagnosed with cerebral edema. He recovered from the first collapse.

On July 20, 1973, scheduled to meet James Bond star, George Lazenby, he got ready and arranged a meeting with Raymond Chow and Betty Ting Pei at the latter’s residence to discuss the script of ‘Games of Death’ which he intended to make with Lazenby. He complained of headache and therefore had analgesic. He lay down to take a nap little knowing that it would be his last nap.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was declared dead. An autopsy confirmed that the death was due to an allergic reaction caused by the ingredient meprobamate which aides in muscle relaxation that caused a 13% increase in his brain size, from 1,400 to 1,575 grams.

He was buried at his wife’s hometown in Seattle at Lakeview Cemetery. His home in Hong Kong is proclaimed to be preserved and turned into a tourist site by philanthropist, Yu Pang-lin.

Trivia

A martial arts instructor and actor, he is responsible for formulating the Jeet Kune Do or the Way of the Intercepting Fist. His last movie as an actor was ‘Enter the Dragon’.

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Bruce Lee's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01994 - Hong Kong Film Award for Lifetime Achievement Award
0 1972 - Golden Horse Award for Best Mandarin Film
0 1972 - Golden Horse Special Jury Award

Bruce Lee biography timelines

  • // 27th Nov 1940
    Bruce Lee was born to Lee Hoi-chuen and Grace Ho in San Francisco's Chinatown. When he was three months old, his family relocated to Hong Kong. He had four siblings
  • // 1959
    His continuous involvement in street fight led to his relocation to San Francisco in 1959, as his parents were deeply disturbed by his violent behaviour and wanted him to leave Hong Kong to pursue a safer and healthier avenue.
  • // 1959 To 1964
    From 1959 until 1964, he gave up his acting career to pursue a vocation in martial arts. He started off as a teacher of Kung Fu. With time, he opened his own martial arts school, Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, in Seattle.
  • // 1961
    He enrolled at the University of Washington in 1961, where he majored in drama.
  • // 1964
    In 1964, he dropped out of college to join James Lee, a famous martial arts instructor on Oakland. Together, the two opened a second institute, Jun Fan Martial Art Studio in the city.
  • // 1964
    He participated in the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships, which popularized him for his ‘two-finger push-ups’ and ‘one inch punch’. It was there that he met Taekwondo master Jhoon Goo Rhee, a friendship that formed instantly and benefitted both artists. He performed in the 1967 event as well.
  • // 1964
    Meanwhile, in 1964, he had a private match with Wong Jack Man, which he won. Though the result of the match was unanimously declared, there are two versions about the proceedings of it.
  • // Aug 1964
    While studying at the University of Washington, he met Linda Emery, with whom he tied the knot in August 1964. The couple was blessed with two children, Brandon Lee and Shannon Lee.
  • // 1966 To 1967
    His extraordinary performance in Long Beach Karate Championship brought him under the limelight of Hollywood directors. His first stint of acting as a matured adult was in the TV series ‘The Green Hornet’. The show lasted for one season from 1966 until 1967.
  • // 1967 To 1969
    From 1967 until 1969, he made guest appearance in few more television series including ‘Ironside’, ‘Here Comes the Brides’ and ‘Blondie’.
  • // 1969
    In 1969, he made a guest appeared in the film, ‘Marlowe’. However, biasness and dearth of key roles resulted in him leaving Los Angeles for Hong Kong in the summer of 1971.
  • // 1971
    Upon arriving at Hong Kong, he signed a two film contract. First to release was ‘The Big Boss’, which had him in the lead role. The film was a major hit but was soon surpassed by his next film, ‘Fists of Fury’, which went onto become a grand success.
  • // 1972
    With the 1972 film, ‘Way of the Dragon’, he turned from being merely an actor to the writer, director, star, and choreographer of the fight scenes. Same year, he was offered ‘Enter the Dragon’, which was the first joint venture of Golden Harvest and Warner Bros.
  • // 1973
    ‘Enter the Dragons’ was slated for a July 26, 1973 release. However, just six days before its premier, he passed away.
  • // 10th May 1973
    On May 10, 1973, he collapsed suddenly, while dubbing for ‘Enter the Dragon’ after suffering from seizures and headaches. Immediately, he was rushed to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, where he was diagnosed with cerebral edema. He recovered from the first collapse.
  • // 20th Jul 1973
    On July 20, 1973, scheduled to meet James Bond star, George Lazenby, he got ready and arranged a meeting with Raymond Chow and Betty Ting Pei at the latter’s residence to discuss the script of ‘Games of Death’ which he intended to make with Lazenby. He complained of headache and therefore had analgesic. He lay down to take a nap little knowing that it would be his last nap.
  • // 2013
    In 2013, he was conferred with the prestigious Founders Award at The Asian Awards. Same year, a statue of him was unveiled in Los Angeles' Chinatown. Standing 7-foot tall, the statue was made in Guangzhou, China and proudly serves as the testament of his accomplishments as a martial arts instructor.

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Bruce Lee's FAQ

  • What is Bruce Lee birthday?

    Bruce Lee was born at 1940-11-27

  • When was Bruce Lee died?

    Bruce Lee was died at 1973-07-20

  • Where was Bruce Lee died?

    Bruce Lee was died in Hong Kong

  • Which age was Bruce Lee died?

    Bruce Lee was died at age 32

  • Where is Bruce Lee's birth place?

    Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco

  • What is Bruce Lee nationalities?

    Bruce Lee's nationalities is Chinese, American

  • Who is Bruce Lee spouses?

    Bruce Lee's spouses is Linda Lee Cadwell

  • Who is Bruce Lee siblings?

    Bruce Lee's siblings is Agnes Lee, Peter Lee, Phoebe Lee, Robert Lee

  • Who is Bruce Lee childrens?

    Bruce Lee's childrens is Brandon Lee, Shannon Lee

  • What was Bruce Lee universities?

    Bruce Lee studied at University Of Washington, Seattle Central Community College (1959 – 1960), La Salle College (1956), St. Francis Xavier's College, University of Washington

  • What was Bruce Lee notable alumnis?

    Bruce Lee's notable alumnis is University Of Washington

  • What is Bruce Lee's cause of dead?

    Bruce Lee dead because of Drug Overdose

  • Who is Bruce Lee's father?

    Bruce Lee's father is Lee Hoi-chuen

  • Who is Bruce Lee's mother?

    Bruce Lee's mother is Grace Ho

  • What is Bruce Lee's sun sign?

    Bruce Lee is Sagittarius

  • How famous is Bruce Lee?

    Bruce Lee is famouse as Actor, Martial Artist