Biography
on Bruce Lee:
1940 - November 27 - San
Francisco- In the The Year of the Dragon between 6:00 a.m. and
8:00 a.m. (the hour of the dragon), Lee Jun Fan, Bruce Lee is
born at the Jackson Street Hospital in San Francisco Chinatown
while his father and mother traveled to the U.S. Lee Hoi Chuen,
Bruce's father, was performing with the Cantonese Opera Company
in America. At three months old, Bruce debuts in "Golden
Gate Girl" in San Francisco, CA. He plays role of a female
baby, carried by his father.
1941 (Age 1): Hong Kong -
Bruce and his parents return to Kowloon, their family home. They
move to into an apartment at 218 Nathan Road, Kowloon district.
The apartment is located on the second story of a building which
contained a store on the ground level.
1946 (Age 6): Hong Kong
- Bruce makes his first major childhood moovie in The Beginning of
a Boy. Later this year, he performs in The Birth of Mankind, and
My Son, Ah Cheun. (During the later years of his childhood, Bruce
appears in 20 more films in Asia. In these films, Bruce's vivid
facial expressions begin to develop, and they foreshadow his
future expressions in his famous Kung-Fu movies. Bruce becomes
nearsighted and starts wearing glasses. (He will later start
wearing contacts, suggested to him by a friend who is an
optometrist.)
1952 (Age 12): Hong Kong -
Bruce begins attending La Salle College.
1953 (Age 13): Hong Kong -
After being beaten up by a street gang, Bruce begins to take
Kung-Fu lessons, despite local Hong Kong laws, outlawing street
fights. This is the first, and the last time Bruce looses a
fight. He begins to train under Sifu Yip Man, a master of the
wing chun system of Kung-Fu.
1954 (Age 14): Hong Kong -
Bruce takes up cha-cha dancing.
1958 (Age 18): Hong Kong -
Bruce wins the Crown Colony Cha-Cha Championship. Bruce has a
leading role in the film The Orphan. This is the last movie Bruce
makes as a child actor. This is the only movie where Bruce does
not fight.
1958 (Age 18): ??? - Bruce
enters the 1958 Boxing Championships and defeats the reigning
three year champion, Gary Elms.
1959 (Age 19): Hong Kong -
Because of numerous street fighting, causing police involvement,
Bruce's father and mother decide that Bruce should take a three
week voyage to the United States. The trip is a possible means to
get him back on the right track. He return to his birth-place --
San Francisco Chinatown. Time was also running out for him to
claim his American Citizenship.
1959 (Age 19): San Francisco -
Seattle - With $15 from his father, and $100 from his mother,
Bruce arrives in the United States, living with an old friend of
his father. He works odd jobs around the various Chinese
communities. Later, he moves to Seattle to work for Ruby Chow,
another friend of his father. He lives in a room above her
restaurant while working as a waiter downstairs. He eventually
enrolls in Edison Technical School and earns his high school
diploma. Bruce begins to teach his Martial Art skills in
backyards and city parks.
1961 - March (Age 21):
Seattle- Bruce enrolls at the University of Washington, studying
Philosophy. He teaches Kung-Fu to students at school.
1963 - Summer (Age 23): Hong
Kong - Bruce proposes to Amy Sanbo but is turned down. Bruce
returns to Hong Kong with friend Doug Palmer for the first time
since his arrival in the U.S. to visit family. He then returns to
Seattle at the end of summer to continue his education.
1963 - October 25 (Age 23):
Seattle - Bruce takes out Linda Emery (his future wife) for their
first date. They have dinner at the Space Needle. Bruce gives
notice to Ruby Chow and leaves her restaurant. He starts the
first Jun Fan Kung-Fu Institute.
1963 - Fall (Age 23): Seattle
- Bruce moves his Jun Fan Kung-Fu Institutte into a building (4750
University Way) near the university campus. He teaches any person
of any race. (most Asian Martial Arts schools would only teach
people of their own race)
At Garfield High School, Bruce demonstrates
the "One-Inch Punch". This is the punch he would later
make famous at the 64' Long Beach Internationals and which was
developed by him and James DeMile in Seattle. Bruce would hold
his arm straight out, and with a shrug of his shoulder, knock a
man straight across the ground.
1964 (Age 24): ??? Bruce meets
Jhoon Rhee at the International Karate Championships. The two
would remain good friends. (Jhoon Rhee will invite Bruce to
Washington, D.C. to appear at tournaments.)
1964 - June (Age 24): ??? -
Bruce discusses with James Yimm Lee plans to open a second Jun
Fan Kung-Fu Institute in Oakland, CA.
1964 - Summer - Oakland (Age
24): Plans are finalized, and Bruce leaves Seattle to start a
second Jun Fan Kung-Fu school in Oakland. His good friend, Taky
Kimura, takes over as head instructor.
1964 - August 2 (Age 24): Long
Beach, CA - Ed Parker, known as the Father of American Karate
(Kenpo), invites Bruce to give a demonstration. Bruce shows off
his "one-inch punch," and his two-finger push-ups,
where he literally does "two" finger push-ups. At his
first International Karate Championships, Jay Sebring, the hair
stylist for Batman, William dozier, a producer, who is looking to
cast a part in a TV series he was developing. Sebring then gives
a film of Bruce's demo to Dozier who is impressed at Bruce's
super-human abilities. Bruce later flies down to Los Angeles for
a screen test.
1964 - August 4 (Age 24):
Oakland - Bruce leaves for Seattle. He will propose to Linda.
1964 - August 17 (Age 24):
Seattle - Bruce returns to Seattle to marry Linda. They soon move
to Oakland.
1965 (Age 24): Oakland -
Several months after he begins teaching, he is challenged by,
Wong Jack Man, a leading Kung-Fu practitioner in the Chinatown
Community. They agree: If Bruce looses, he will, either close his
school, or stop teaching Caucasians; and if Jack looses, he will
stop teaching. Jack Man Wong does not believe Bruce would
actually fight, and tries to delay the match. Bruce becomes
angered and insists that they not wait. Wong then tries to put
limitations on techniques. Bruce refuses "rules" and
the two go no holds barred. Bruce begins to pound his opponent in
only a couple of seconds. As Bruce is winning, Wong attempts to
flee, but is caught by Bruce. Bruce begins to beat him on the
ground. Students of the other teacher attempted to step in and
help their teacher, James Lee, Bruce's good friend prevent this.
Later he is bothered on why the fight took so long and begins to
re-evaluate his style. He is determined that he is not in his top
physical condition. Thus, the early concepts of Jeet Kune Do
(JKD), "The art of the intercepting fist" is created.
JKD is an art including techniques of all types of fighting.
(i.e. American Boxing, Thai Kick Boxing, Japanese Karate, etc.)
His style is no style. Bruce is signed to a one-year option for
The Green Hornet. He is paid an $1800 retainer.
1965 - February 1 (Age 25):
Oakland, CA - Brandon Bruce Lee is born.
1965 - February 8 (Age 25):
Hong Kong - Bruce's father passes away in Hong Kong. Bruce
returns to Hong Kong for his fathers funeral. As tradition
dictates, in order to obtain forgiveness for not being present
when his father died, Bruce crawls on his knees across the floor
of the funeral home towards the casket wailing loudly and crying.
1965 - May (Age 25): ??? Bruce
uses the retainer money from the Green Hornet and flies himself,
Linda, and Brandon back to Hong Kong in order to settle his
father's estate affairs. While in Hong Kong, Bruce takes Brandon
to see Yip Man to persuade Yip to perform on tape. Bruce wants to
take the footage back to Seattle and show his students what the
man looks like in action. Yip modestly declines.
1965 - September (Age 25):
Seattle - Bruce, Linda, Brandon return to Seattle.
1966 (Age 26): Los Angeles -
Bruce and family move to Los Angeles to an apartment on Wilshire
and Gayley in Westwood. This is where he begins working on a new
TV series called The Green Hornet as Kato. The Green Hornet
series starts filming and Bruce is Paid $400 per episode. Bruce
buys a 1966 blue Chevy Nova. Bruce is later known to have gotten
the part of Kato because he was the only person who could
accurately pronounce the star's name, Britt Reid. He later opens
third branch of the Jun Fan Kung-Fu Institute in Los Angeles'
Chinatown.
1966 - September 9 (Age 26):
Los Angeles - The Green Hornet series premiers.
1967-1971 (Age 27-31):
Hollywood - During this time, Bruce lands bit parts in various
films and T.V. series. He also gives private lessons for up to
$250 an hour to personalities Steve McQueen, James Coburn, James
Garner, Lee Marvin, Roman Polanski, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Bruce meets Chuck Norris in New York at the All American Karate
Championships in Washington D.C. Chuck fights Joe Lewis and wins.
1967 (Age 27): Washington,
D.C. - Bruce meets Joe Lewis at The Mayflower Hotel while both
were guests at the 67' National Karate Championships. Joe is
competing in the tournament and Bruce is making special
appearances as Kato.
1967 - February (Age 27): Los
Angeles - Bruce opens a 3rd school at 628 College Street, Los
Angeles, CA. Dan Inosanto serves as assistant instructor.
1967 - July 14 (Age 27): Los
Angeles - The last episode of The Green Hornet Series shows. The
movie is later said to have failed because Bruce, a minor role
became more popular than the main character.
1969 - April 19 (Age 29):
Santa Monica, CA Shannon Lee is born.
1969 (Age 29): ??? - A
scriptwriter is hired and paid $12K by Stirling Silliphant and
James Coburn to write a script for the Silent Flute. The script
produced is unacceptable, and no other scriptwriter could seen to
do the job. They then decide to write it themselves.
1970 (Age 30): Los Angeles -
Bruce injures his sacral nerve and experiences severe muscle
spasms in his back while training. Doctors told him that he would
never kick again. During the months of recovery he starts to
document his training methods and his philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.
Later after his death, The Tao of Jeet Kune Do is published by
his wife in memory of Bruce Lee.
1970 (Age 30): Hong Kong -
Bruce and Brandon fly to Hong Kong and are welcomed by fans of
The Green Hornet Show. Bruce sends Unicorn to talk to Run Run
Shaw on his behalf and inform Shaw that he would be willing to do
a movie for him for $10K. Shaw makes counter-offer of a seven
year contract and $2K per film which Bruce declines.
1971 - February (Age 31):
India - Bruce, James Coburn, Stirling Silliphant fly to India to
scout locations for The Silent Flute. They spend one month
searching but are forced to call off the search as Coburn backs
out of the project. This trip gives Bruce the idea for Game of
Death, where a fighter, mastering in several techniques, will go
from one level to the next in a temple: the first level (the
level of weaponry), the second level (the level of the nine
degree black belt), and the third level ( "The level of the
unknown.")
1971 (Age 31): Hong Kong. -
Bruce takes a short trip back to Hong Kong to arrange for his
mother to live in the U.S. Unknowingly to him, he had become a
superstar for The Green Hornet was one of the most popular TV
shows in Hong Kong. Later, he is approached by Raymond Chow,
owner of a new production company, and offered the lead role in a
new film called The Big Boss. Bruce accepts. Bruce is supplied
with small furnished apartment at 2 Man Wan Road - Kowloon, HK.
Wu Ngan, moves in with Bruce and Linda. Later Wu Ngan marries and
his new wife moves in as well. Brandon attends La Salle College.
The same school Bruce attended only 15 years before. Bruce is
interviewed by Canadian talk show host, Pierre Berton, for a TV
program being filmed in Hong Kong. This is the only on film said
to be in existence.
1971- July (Age 31): Thailand
- Filming begins for The Big Boss (releaseed in the U.S. as Fists
of Fury). The Big Boss opens in Hong Kong to great reviews and
mobs of fans. Proceeds to gross more than $3.5 million in little
than three weeks.
1971 - December 7 (Age 31):
Hong Kong - Bruce receives telegram, notifying him that he had
not been chosen for the part in the upcoming series, The Warrior.
This series was later released as Kung-Fu, staring David
Carradine, who doesn't know anything about martial arts. (The
show aired as ABC-TVs Movie of the Week on February 21, 1972.)
1972 (Age 32): Hong Kong -
Fist of Fury (released in the U.S. as The Chinese Connection) is
released. It grosses more than The Big Boss and further
establishes Bruce as a Hong Kong superstar. Bruce gets a larger
budget, a larger salary, and more power of directing in this
film. Bruce begins work on Game of Death and films several fight
scenes including Danny Inosanto and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bruce
appears on Hong Kong's TVB channel for a hurricane disaster
relief benefit. In a demo Bruce performs, he breaks 4 out of 5
boards, one of which is hanging in the air with a line of string.
Brandon even performs and breaks a board with a sidekick! Bruce
helps Unicorn, a fellow actor, by assisting him for one day and
supervises fight action sequences in Unicorn's film, The Unicorn
Palm - Footage of Bruce on the set is used in the movie and
Bruce's name appears in the credits to his surprise causing Bruce
to become angry and make a public announcement denying his
endorsement of the film. Unicorn was advised to get Bruce's name
in the credits, so his movie would have a better chance at being
a success.
1972 (Age 32): Rome, Italy -
Location shots are made for Bruce's third film The Way of the
Dragon (released in the U.S. as The Return of the Dragon). This
time Bruce gets almost complete control the the movie, which he
writes, directs, and stars in. Chuck Norris is Bruce's adversary
in the final fight scene. Again, this film surpasses all records
set by his previous two films.
1972 - December 28 (Age 32):
Oakland Bruce's brother, James, dies of "Black Lung."
1973 - February (Age 33): Hong
Kong - Bruce gets his chance at American stardom as filming of
Enter the Dragon begins while Game of Death is put on hold. It is
the first-ever production between the U.S. and Hong Kong film
industries. On February 20, Bruce is guest of honor at St.
Francis Xavier's school for Sports Day ceremonies.
1973 (Age 33): Los Angeles -
Grace Lee, Bruce's mother, sees Bruce in Los Angeles, CA. Bruce
tells her that he does not expect to live much longer and that
she is not to worry about finances as he will make sure she is
provided for. She rebukes him for talking that way.
1973 - April (Age 33): Hong
Kong - Filming of Enter the Dragon is completed. Bruce is at
Golden Harvest Studios in Hong Kong dubbing his voice for
"Enter The Dragon". The air conditioners had been
turned off, so the microphones won't pick them up. The
temperature soared. Bruce takes a break looping lines to go to
the bathroom and splash water on his face. In the bathroom, he
passes out on the bathroom floor. He revives twenty minutes later
just as assistant sent to find out what was keeping him walks in
and discovers him on the ground. He tries to conceal his collapse
by acting as though he has dropped his glasses on the floor and
is searching for them and is helped up by the assistant. As they
are walking back to the dubbing room, Bruce collapses again and
is rushed to a nearby hospital.
1973 - July 10 (Age 33): Hong
Kong - Bruce Lee is walking through the Golden Harvest Studios
and overhears Lo Wei in a nearby room bad mouthing him. He
confronts Lo Wei who retreats and summons the local police. When
the police arrive Lo Wei falsely accuses Bruce of threatened him
with a knife concealed in his belt buckle. He further insists
that Bruce sign a statement that he will not harm him. Bruce
signs the statement to get Lo Wei off his back although Lo Wei
lied to the police and Bruce never had a knife nor threatened to
kill him. That same day, Bruce appears on the Hong Kong TV show,
Enjoy Yourself Tonight with host Ho Sho Shin. Bruce alludes to
his problems with director Lo Wei, but does not mention him by
name. Bruce is asked to display his physical prowess and
demonstrates his abilities. Bruce demonstrates a technique and
Shin is hurled across the stage. The show of power causes the
press to indite Bruce in the paper and accuse him of bullying the
talk show host though this was not the case.
1973 - July 16 (Age 33): Hong
Kong - Heavy rains fall caused by a typhoon off the coast of Hong
Kong. Bruce makes a $200 phone call to speak to Unicorn in his
hotel room, who is filming a movie in Manila. Bruce tells Unicorn
that he is worried about the many headaches he is experiencing.
1973 - July 18 (Age 33): Hong
Kong - A bad Feng Shui deflector, placed on the roof of Bruce's
Cumberland Road home in Hong Kong is blown off the roof by heavy
rain and winds. The deflector had been placed on the house to
protect Bruce and family from bad Feng Shui; previous owners had
all been plagued by financial disaster and it was believed that
this was because of the incorrect positioning of the house. The
deflector was to ward off evil spirits.
1973 - July 20 (Age 33): Hong
Kong - Early in the morning Bruce types a letter to his attorney,
Adrian Marshall, detailing business ventures he wants to discuss
on his upcoming trip to Los Angeles. Bruce had tickets already
set to return to the US for a publicity tour and was scheduled to
appear on the Johnny Carson show. Raymond Chow goes by Bruce's
house and the two discuss plans for their upcoming movie Game of
Death. Linda kisses Bruce good-bye and says she is going out to
run some errands and will see him later that night. Raymond and
Bruce visit Betty Ting Pei at her apartment to discuss her role
in Game of Death. That evening plans had been made for them all
to meet George Lazenby over dinner and enlist him for a part.
Bruce explains that he has a headache, takes a prescription pain
killer offered by Betty, and lies down on her bed to rest prior
to dinner. Raymond Chow departs and says that he will meet them
later. Raymond Chow and George Lazenby meet at a restaurant and
await Bruce and Betty's arrival, but the two never show up. At
9:00 p.m. Chow receives a call from Betty; she said that she has
tried to wake Bruce up but he won't come to. Betty summons her
personal physician who fails to revive Bruce and who has Bruce
taken to the hospital. Bruce does not revive and is pronounced
dead. The doctor's are surprised that he had lasted as long as he
did that night but unfortunately Betty did not get him help as
soon as she could have. Bruce Lee dies in Hong Kong of an
apparent cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). After much
confusion and debate, doctors declared the death of Bruce Lee as
"death by misadventure." Enter the Dragon was delayed
from its initial premieres by four day because of the actors
death.
1973 - July 25 (Age 33): Hong
Kong - A funeral ceremony is held for friends and fans in Hong
Kong consisting of over 25,000 people. Bruce is dressed in the
Chinese outfit he wore in Enter the Dragon.
1973 - July 30 (Age 33):
Seattle - After a smaller second ceremony in Seattle, Washington
at Butterworth Funeral Home on East Pine Street, Bruce Lee is
buried at Lake View Cemetery. His pallbearers included Steve
McQueen, James Coburn, Danny Inosanto, Taky Kimura, Peter Chin,
and his brother, Robert Lee.
1973 - August 24 Hollywood -
Enter The Dragon premiers at Graumann's Chinese Theater. The
movie is a success, and Bruce Lee achieves world-wide fame.
Here is the ultimate aim of Bruce Lee, as he stated in 1969: |
|
I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid Oriental super star in the United States. In return I will give the most exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 I will have in my possession $10,000,000. I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness. |
|
-- Bruce Lee -- |
|