10 Defining Moments in the Life of Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, and filmmaker, known for his impact on popularizing martial arts in the West.

1961-09-01

1961-09-01

Enrolled in the University of Washington

Bruce Lee enrolled at the University of Washington, studying philosophy.

20

Education

1963-10-01

1963-10-01

Opened Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute

Bruce Lee opened his first martial arts school, the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, in Seattle.

22

Career

1966-09-09

1966-09-09

Appearance on The Green Hornet

Bruce Lee gained fame in the U.S. by portraying Kato in the TV series 'The Green Hornet'.

25

Career

1967-01-01

1967-01-01

Founded Jeet Kune Do

Bruce Lee founded his martial arts philosophy, Jeet Kune Do, emphasizing adaptability and practicality.

26

Career

1971-01-01

1971-01-01

Moved to Hong Kong

Bruce Lee moved to Hong Kong in pursuit of a film career, starring in influential martial arts films.

30

Personal

1972-03-22

1972-03-22

Fist of Fury Release

The film 'Fist of Fury' starring Bruce Lee was released, further establishing him as a superstar.

31

Career

1972-07-30

1972-07-30

The Way of the Dragon Release

Bruce Lee wrote, directed, and starred in 'The Way of the Dragon', a box office success.

31

Career

1973-07-20

1973-07-20

Untimely Death

Bruce Lee passed away under mysterious circumstances at the age of 32.

32

Personal

1973-07-26

1973-07-26

Enter the Dragon Release

Considered one of Bruce Lee’s most famous films, 'Enter the Dragon' was released posthumously.

32

Career

1978-03-23

1978-03-23

Posthumous Film Release - Game of Death

The incomplete film 'Game of Death', featuring Bruce Lee, was released with portions of his original footage.

37

Career

Photos

Photos

Bruce Lee stencil

"Bruce Lee stencil" by next. is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.