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Revision as of 12:46, 27 November 2002 by Dante Alighieri (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Bruce Lee (real name: 李振藩 Lee Jun Fan; screen name: 李小龍) (November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973) is widely considered to be the greatest martial arts actor of the 20th century. His films, especially the last one, Enter the Dragon, elevated the by-then traditional Hong Kong martial arts film to a new level, and artists like Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris have been able to work from this platform. His son, Brandon Lee, was also a martial artist and an actor.
Born in San Francisco, USA, Lee was raised in Hong Kong. His parents were film actors, hence he got the opportunities to appear on several Chinese movies when he was a kid. He also studied the Wing Chun style of Kung Fu. He returned to the US as a young man and starred as the oriental sidekick Kato in the television series The Green Hornet. On his return to Hong Kong, he starred in the movies that would cement his fame.
After studying and becoming dissatisfied with existing schools of martial arts, Lee also created two of his own: Jun Fan, a Kung Fu style; and Jeet Kun Do, which also incorporated elements from martial arts outside of Kung Fu.
Bruce Lee died in 1973. Although there have been a number rumours in circulation concerning the cause of death, the official cause of death was ruled to be an allergic reaction to an aspirin he took.