Bruce Lee

Enduring action icon Bruce Lee was born Nov. 27, 1940, in San Francisco, the son of Chinese performers who returned to Hong Kong. A successful child actor in Hong Kong, Lee later returned to the United States to study philosophy at the University of Washington.

Already renowned as a martial arts master, Lee landed a role as Kato in TV's "Green Hornet" (1966) and appeared briefly in 1969's Marlowe but found good roles for Asian actors scarce in America. Back in Hong Kong, he struck international gold as the kung fu hero of Fist of Fury, The Chinese Connection and Return of the Dragon. Their success brought him back to Hollywood for his first and only starring role in a Hollywood feature, the hugely successful Enter the Dragon (1973).

At the peak of his fame, Lee died of cerebral edema July 20, 1973, while filming Game of Death; the picture was completed with a double and released in 1979.

Filmography