Bruce Lee

Chinese-American actor and martial arts expert who portrayed heroism and grace in movies featuring his martial arts. His first movie from China became wildly popular in the U.S., which led to American films and beginning a martial arts craze. He became a cult figure among action-loving youths, with fan clubs around the world. Lee's films include "The Big Boss," 1971 and "Enter the Dragon," 1973. Lee played the superhero's chauffeur Kato in "The Green Hornet," a stiffly acted adaptation of the old radio series that started September 1966. After the series ended, Lee guest-starred in TV shows such as "Longstreet" and then taught martial arts to Hollywood stars. Lee, ever the consummate professional, would rehearse action scenes until they were textbook perfect. He privately mastered all forms of martial arts to such an extent that he could beat recognized champions. Hong Kong filmmaker Raymond Chow put him in a series of martial arts pictures which made Lee an international star. The demanding standards of excellence took their toll and he had a mild seizure in May 1973. On 20 July 1973 while at the apartment of an actress friend discussing the possibility of her co-starring in a movie with him, he suffered a severe headache. When he stretched out on her bed, she offered him the prescription drug Equagesic for his pain. Shortly after the actress friend tried to shake him awake, thinking he looked too still while he slept. When Lee didn't respond, she called Chow who was awaiting their arrival at a restaurant. Chow told her to call an ambulance and rushed back over arriving at the same time as medics who were getting no signs of life. Artificial respiration was attempted but Lee didn't respond. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a pair of doctors massaged his heart and stimulated it with an injection but nothing helped. Lee was declared dead an hour after he arrived. First reports indicated that Lee suffered a cerebral hemorrhage brought on by the Equagesic. Since he hadn't taken enough to do more than cause an upset stomach an inquest was held. The coroner testified that Lee may have died of cannabis poisoning because traces of "pot" were discovered in the actor's stomach and intestines. Friends and associates maintain that Lee was murdered and theories range from angry Elders of the Manchu Dynasty to the CIA and jealous film rivals bumping him off. Lee left an outline for a story that was turned into the film "The Silent Flute" with David Carradine playing the role that had been intended for Lee and was released in 1979, along with his final appearance in the film "Game of Death." His son Brandon, who followed in his footsteps to make more action-films, was also killed at an early age, on 31 March 1992 ( by a gun that was supposed to have contained only blanks, but fired a bullet that had accidentally been left lodged in the barrel.) Link to Wikipedia biography