Photo: Capital Pictures
In July 1973,Bruce Leewas working on a number of new projects, most notably the movieGame of Death. He’d been married to Linda Emery Lee for nine years, and they had two children together: 8-year-oldBrandonand 4-year-oldShannon.
His funeral was held in Hong Kong, where he died, though he’s buried in Seattle alongside his son, who died two decades later.
On the 50th anniversary of Lee’s death,Shannon wrote a tribute addressed to her late father and brotherin PEOPLE. “You both lived so vibrantly, so boldly, so viscerally, so truly, and it is that life that you embodied and shared so beautifully that has given me the courage and the desire to not just live but grow and blossom through the loss of you,” she wrote. “Your energy is eternal, and it still communicates. It still hits. It still loves. And I love you—your big laughter, your big smiles.”
Here’s a look at what happened when Bruce Lee died and the legacy he left behind.
How did Bruce Lee die?
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Others had suggested that the cannabis found in Lee’s system could have contributed to his death, but forensic scientist Donald Teare, who was assigned to Lee’s case, denied this.
Lee, who had been experiencing headaches and seizures, collapsed while working on his filmEnter the Dragontwo months before his death in 1973. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed cerebral edema, and was discharged several days later.
When did Bruce Lee die?
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Lee died on July 20, 1973. According to Polly, the news of Lee’s death broke around 11:30 p.m., when Hong Kong’s police commissioner Charles Sutcliffe was notified.
Suttcliffe was hosting a party with many prominent members of the Hong Kong media present, and they all made their way to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after hearing the news.
Where did Bruce Lee die?
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Lee died at the home of Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei in Kowloon, Hong Kong. On the day of his death, Lee and producer Richard Chow drove to Pei’s home, where he took an Equagesic and laid down for a nap.
How old was Bruce Lee when he died?
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Lee was 32 years old when he died. More than 30 years after his death, an 8.2-ft. statue of Lee was unveiled in Hong Kong on Nov. 27, 2005, what would have been his 65th birthday.
How did the public react to Bruce Lee’s death?
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The martial artist’s death sparked a major public reaction around the world. His funeral was held in Hong Kong, and he was later buried in Seattle.
What legacy did Bruce Lee leave behind?
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Lee is still considered a cultural icon, and the most influential martial artist of all time. In 1999, TIMEnamed him one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.
He founded the martial arts discipline of Jeet Kune Do, which incorporates numerous different forms of martial arts. Jeet Kune Do is also considered a predecessor to mixed martial arts, which is featured in the UFC.
Shannon has also been protective of her father’s image and legacy. In 2021, she criticizedOnce Upon a Time in HollywooddirectorQuentin Tarantinofor the movie’s portrayal of her father “as a dispensable stereotype."
In 2019, shetold PEOPLEthat she still has vivid memories of her father and feels a close connection to him. She serves as one of the executive producers of the Cinemax martial arts crime dramaWarrior, which is based on her father’s writings.
“When he focused his attention on you, it was like having the sun shine on you,” she shared. “That feeling has stayed with me my whole life.”
source: people.com
