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/.