Celebrating the life of
Bruce Lee
On the anniversary of Bruce Lee’s death, we look back on his life, his career, and his impact on martial arts. He died of brain edema on July 20, 1973, in Hong Kong at the age of 32.
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Join MemoriesOn the anniversary of Bruce Lee’s death, we look back on his life, his career, and his impact on martial arts. He died of brain edema on July 20, 1973, in Hong Kong at the age of 32.
Community Test Born Lee Jun-fan on November 27, 1940, Bruce Lee was given the name “Bruce” from a nurse at the hospital where he was born in San Francisco. His family moved back to Hong Kong shortly after his birth. He moved back to the United States at the age of 19 to continue his high school education in Seattle, Washington.
Community Test His father being a Cantonese opera performer, Bruce was introduced to the world of acting at a young age. As a child actor, he appeared in 20 films. He also studied dance and kung fu with Master Yip Man.
Community Test He met his wife Linda Emery while studying at the University of Washington. The couple married in August of 1964 and had two children Brandon and Shannon. Bruce’s children went onto to study martial arts, with Brandon following in his father’s footsteps in acting.
Community Test Bruce’s appearance in “The Green Hornet” catapulted him into Hollywood consciousness. Playing Kato the sidekick, his use of martial arts introduced the Asian-style of fighting to the American audience. It was said that his movement was so fast that he had to slow down for it to show on camera.
Bruce Lee's audition for "The Green Hornet"
Community Test He moved back to Hong Kong in 1971 for better film opportunities. His gamble paid off when he landed his first leading role, something that Bruce could not attain in Hollywood. “The Big Boss” was a huge box office hit in Asia. The records set by “The Big Boss” were broken at the release of his next movie, “Fist of Fury” in 1972.
Community Test “Way of the Dragon” also starred Chuck Norris, and the fight scene between the two was considered one of the best fight scenes in martial arts.
Community Test His third film, “Way of the Dragon” was the first film in which he had complete control over the film’s production. He was attributed as being the writer, director, star, and choreographer of fight scenes.
Community Test Bruce’s film “Enter the Dragon” was released just a month after his death in August 1973 and achieved box-office success in the United States.
Community Test His final movie, “Game of Death” was released on June 8, 1979, and with its release, the Mayor of Los Angeles officially proclaimed the day as “Bruce Lee Day.”
Community Test Lee was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century and remains a strong influence for many people today.
Community Test His hometown in Foshan, Guandong, China dedicated a 3,000-acre park to him called the Bruce Lee Paradise Park. The park offers breath-taking scenery, lush greenery, and of course, a Bruce-Lee Commemorative Museum.
ESPN released “Be Water,” a documentary about Bruce Lee in 2020. His story was told by family, friends, and collaborators, including NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The documentary features a look into Bruce’s film history and vividly captures his charisma, passion, and philosophy.
Community Test He died of brain edema on July 20, 1973, in Hong Kong at the age of 32. Bruce Lee’s works left an incredible impact in the Hong Kong film industry, as well as the world’s pop culture. He was quoted saying, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”