Lee, Bruce (1940-1973), was a Chinese American motion-picture star. Lee became an international cult favorite for his performances in action-filled films that featured his skill in karate, kung fu, and other martial arts. Lee’s popularity increased after his sudden death from a swelling of the brain.
Lee was born on Nov. 27, 1940, in San Francisco to Chinese parents. His real name was Lee Jun Fan. Lee spent much of his childhood in Hong Kong, then a British colony, where he appeared in many movies. He began his film career as an adult after graduating from the University of Washington. He appeared as the Asian houseboy Kato in the television series “The Green Hornet” in 1966 and 1967. Lee then returned to Hong Kong, where he gained stardom in such martial arts films as Fist of Fury (1972), The Chinese Connection (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973), and The Return of the Dragon (1973). He died on July 20, 1973.
Brandon Lee, Bruce’s son, was also a martial arts movie star. Like his father, Brandon died young. He was killed in a shooting accident in 1993 while filming a movie.
