During the Ching Empire (1644-1911), there was a mass Chinese exodus to San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands. When Lee was born, his parents toured with the opera company in America. When he was three months old his parents returned to their native Hong Kong. Lee would remain there until he turned 18.
In addition to studying gung fu, Lee was an accomplished dancer. He won the Hong Kong Cha Cha Championship in 1958. According to the Bruce Lee Foundation, he kept a notebook containing 108 different cha cha steps! Lee began studying gung fu at 13. He struggled academically yet was proficient in teaching dancing and gung fu. In 1959 he sailed for San Francisco and to a new chapter in his life.
Lee eventually received a high school equivalency and after trips to Seattle, he enrolled at the University of Washington. He devoted much time to learning and speaking English, and in time he met Linda Emery. She had heard of him due to his teaching and speaking engagements in Chinese philosophy. She began taking gung fu lessons from him. They married in 1964.
Bruce Lee Goes to Hollywood
After traveling and doing demonstrations in California, Lee caught the attention of William Dozier, producer of the Batman TV series. He had seen a film of one of Lee’s demonstrations and called Lee to come to Los Angeles for a screen test. He performed well but the project dissolved. Shortly thereafter, Dozier asked Lee to do a screen test for a major part in The Green Hornet series.
Thus, Bruce began to pave his way to stardom as “Kato,” the Green Hornet’s trusty sidekick. Even a cursory look at reruns of the show will give the viewer an idea of the exceptional physical skills of the late Bruce Lee. Lee was so fast the director asked him to slow down in order for the camera to capture his moves. Lee went on from there to do action films in both the Orient and the United States.
Bruce Lee starred in Fists of Fury, Return of the Dragon, Game of Death, and Enter the Dragon.
Bruce Lee's Personal Life
Bruce Lee has influenced the lives of people around the world. Bruce and Linda gave birth to a son, Brandon, in 1965. In 1969 their daughter Shannon was born. Lee was laid up with a spinal injury for six months in 1970. During his extended bed rest, he wrote extensively on his philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, or “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.” He developed a close friendship with Chuck Norris during the filming of Return of the Dragon.
Lee died on July 20, 1973, after taking a prescription painkiller. According to the nine-day coroner’s inquest, Lee died as a result of a hypersensitive reaction to an ingredient in the painkiller. He was 32.
During his short lifetime, Bruce Lee enhanced the lives of those around him. He was a dancer, martial artist, actor, philosopher, husband, father, and icon. Many say his spirit lives on today through his Jeet Kune Do.
Sources:
The Bruce Lee Foundation (see “Biography”)
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