Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was born in Chinatown on November 27th, 1940 to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hoi-Chen. He is renamed Bruce by a nurse at the hospital. Lee grew up around entertainment, his father was a Chinese opera and film actor, and Bruce was even placed in his first film at the age of 3 months.Soon after, the family moves to Hong Kong.
In 1953, Bruce Lee takes up Wing Chun under master Yip Man after claiming to be “bullied” at school. Lee also has his first run in with the Triads when he attacks one of the sons of the leaders, to whom he refuses to bow down. Lee is crowned “Cha-cha champion” in 1958, when he is 18.
Lee accepts a challenge from member of a rival gung fu school on April 29th, 1959. While taking off his jacket, Bruce is sucker-punched and it causes him to go into a rage, in which he knocks his opponent out and dislodges a tooth. The boy’s parents complain to the authorities and Lee’s father steps in, deciding it is time for Lee to return to San Fransisco.
Bruce moves to Seattle and attends the University of Washington where he majors in philosophy and meets his future wife, Linda Emery. Bruce eventually makes his debut at Kato on The Green Hornet, but the show is cancelled after one season. After a few more attempts at American television, Lee is offered a role in the Big Boss by Raymond Chow.
Lee continues to film Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, and Game of Death.
Lee signs on to film Enter the Dragon with Warner Brothers, which becomes the first ever production between Hong Kong and the United States. Lee collapses during a dubbing session for Enter the Dragon. He is flown to California and is declared to be in perfect health with the body of an 18-year-old.
Lee dies as an result of a cerebral edema, which was believed to be caused by an allergic reaction to a combination of meprobamate (a pain-killing ingredient found in medication for his lower back pain) and an aspirin-like headache tablet called Equagesic. Bruce Lee is laid to rest in Lake View Cemetery on July 31st, 1973.
