Bruce Lee made only a handful of starring films, yet more than fifty years after his death he remains the most famous martial artist who ever lived. Interest in his story never fades: a biopic from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, with his son Mason Lee in the lead, has been in the works, though Ang Lee said in December 2025 that the project had stalled.
He changed action cinema, brought martial arts to a global audience and broke barriers for Asian actors in Hollywood. Discover more screen legends in our Movies collection.
Bruce Lee Fact File
| Birth name | Lee Jun-fan |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 November 1940, San Francisco, California |
| Died | 20 July 1973, Kowloon, Hong Kong (aged 32) |
| Height | About 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Nationality | American; raised in Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Actor, martial artist, director, philosopher |
| Years active | 1941–1973 |
| Known for | Jeet Kune Do, Enter the Dragon |
| Nickname | Little Dragon |
Key Films
| Year | Film/Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1966–1967 | The Green Hornet (TV) | Kato |
| 1969 | Marlowe | Winslow Wong |
| 1971 | The Big Boss | Cheng Chao-an |
| 1972 | Fist of Fury | Chen Zhen |
| 1972 | The Way of the Dragon | Tang Lung (also writer and director) |
| 1973 | Enter the Dragon | Lee |
| 1978 | Game of Death (released posthumously) | Billy Lo |
Bruce Lee also appeared in around twenty Hong Kong films as a child actor. His four completed adult starring films were made in just three years.
A Childhood on Screen
Born in San Francisco while his father, the Cantonese opera star Lee Hoi-chuen, was on tour, Bruce grew up in Hong Kong and was acting in films as a child. As a teenager he trained in Wing Chun under the famous master Ip Man.
At 18 he moved to the United States, studied at the University of Washington in Seattle and began teaching martial arts.
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Kato and Jeet Kune Do
American audiences first noticed him as Kato, the lightning-fast sidekick in The Green Hornet (1966–67). Around the same time, in 1967, he founded Jeet Kune Do, a philosophy of martial arts built on adaptability and simplicity.
Frustrated by the limited roles on offer in Hollywood, he returned to Hong Kong to become a leading man.
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Hong Kong Superstar
The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972) broke box-office records in Hong Kong. He then wrote, directed and starred in The Way of the Dragon (1972), famous for his Colosseum fight with Chuck Norris.
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Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon, a co-production with Warner Bros., was released in Hong Kong on 26 July 1973, just six days after Lee's sudden death at the age of 32. Made for around $850,000, it became one of the most successful films of its era and is now in the US National Film Registry.
Awards
Honours
- Named in Time's 100 most important people of the 20th century (1999)
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1993)
- Bronze statue on Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars, unveiled on what would have been his 65th birthday (2005)
Film Recognition
- Enter the Dragon added to the US National Film Registry (2004)
Away From the Spotlight
Lee was a keen reader and writer whose notes on philosophy and training were later published, including Tao of Jeet Kune Do. His daughter, Shannon Lee, now leads the Bruce Lee Foundation, which keeps his teachings alive.
FAQs
How old was Bruce Lee when he died?
He was 32. Bruce Lee died on 20 July 1973 in Hong Kong. Had he lived, he would turn 86 on 27 November 2026.
What was Bruce Lee's real name?
His Chinese birth name was Lee Jun-fan.
Where was Bruce Lee born?
In San Francisco, California, though he grew up in Hong Kong.
How tall was Bruce Lee?
He is usually listed at about 1.72 m, or 5 ft 8 in.
How many films did Bruce Lee make?
He completed four adult starring films: The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon. Game of Death was released in 1978, and he also made many films as a child actor.
What martial art did Bruce Lee create?
He founded Jeet Kune Do in 1967.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: List of the 100 Most Popular Actors and Most Popular Actors by Era.
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