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It’sbeen over 50 years since Bruce Lee passed away unexpectedly at age 32 – and his only daughter is determined to set the record straight.
Shannon Lee has been protecting herfather’slegacy since she was in her 30s. The 54-year-old is co-founder of the Bruce Lee Foundation alongside her mother, Linda.
She’snow partnering up with Genesis Publications topublish“In My Own Process,”which she said is the official book documenting herfather’slife and work. It features rare photographs, workout regimes, martial arts drawings and philosophical observations made by the late star.
Bruce Lee’s philosophies are published in a new book, “In My Own Process.” (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“Lately,there’sbeen this narrative popping up that my father was angry all the time and arrogant and an a—–e,”Shannon explained to Fox News Digital.”Look, everybody can be angry sometimes.I’mnot saying he was never angry. I know,especiallywhen he was younger, he could have a temper. But his temper and his anger were a lot of times born out of frustration. Frustration with the way hewas treated, or frustration with people promising things and then not following through.. . . But through his self-work, he came to understand that.”
“In My Own Process” is being published on April 23. (Genesis Publications)
“He has many . . . writings about it, howit’seasy to be cocky and arrogant,”Shannon shared.”It’sharder to be honest and express who you really are.[But] there’sthis narrativebeing spreadnow that he was this angry, arrogant, cocky person.
“He was extremely confident, whichI thinkcan be mistaken for arrogancesometimes.He cared intensely about doing things well.. . . We tend to want to put people in a box and say,‘This is what this person was like.’But the truth is, those peopledidn’tknow him, or they only crossed paths with him very, very briefly.”
Shannon Lee wants to address misconceptions about her father Bruce Lee’s life – and death. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
“That’ssomethingI’mtrying to correct,”Shannon added.
Lee died in 1973 at the height of his fame, due to an allergic reaction to painkillers. Over the years, Shannon has heard numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the circumstances of herfather’spassing.
Some have alleged thatLee’sdeath was covered upand instead, that he had taken a drug overdose.Some claimed he was poisoned by a jealous lover.Others insisted he was assassinated by rival gangs.And for some, he was simply a victim of a family curse.
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Bruce Lee died in 1973 at the height of his fame, due to an allergic reaction to painkillers. He was 32. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
The theory of a so-called curse intensified whenShannon’sbrother, Brandon Lee, died in 1993 after an accidental shooting while filming”The Crow.”He was 28.
In response to those rumors, Shannon said that it only speaks to”the greatness of my father’s life.”
Shannon, who was four when her father died, admitted that her memories of Lee are hazy. But his presence never left her.
Bruce Lee is seen here holding a young Shannon Lee. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“The thing that I remember the most about him is how he felt to me,”said Shannon.”I havea very strongfeeling of a sense of warmth, a sense of attention, a sense of playfulness, a sense of strength. He instilled in me a sense of safety and a sense of love that I get to carry with me throughout my whole life.
“For a long time, when I was growing up, I wasreally confusedabout why I felt like I knew this person so well, so strongly, given that my mental memories, my visual memories, are not that strong. Butit’sbecause of the feeling he gave me.”
Bruce Lee was one of the first Asian actors to attain Hollywood mega-stardom. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
Her mother, 79, has continued to share many stories about the patriarch.
“When my parents had my brother, my dad was really excited, because he had a son,”said Shannon.”For Chinese men, a firstborn son isreally important. So he was really proud and excited. And then my mom was like,‘I think we should have another child.’He was like,‘If I could have anothersonthat would be great.’Then I came along. My mom was like,‘Oh my God, you had him wrapped around your little finger.'”
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Shannon Lee is seen here with her father, Bruce Lee, and her brother, Brandon Lee. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“He became a girl dad, like hardcore,”Shannon chuckled.
Shannon described her household as one filled with love. Linda told her that she had never laughed so much in her life as when she was married to Lee.
“Most people tend to think of myfather’slife as starting in the United States,”said Shannon.”That’swhere he met my mother,that’swhere he opened his schools,andthat’swhere he was discovered by Hollywood.His career took off from there.
Shannon Lee eating melon on Bruce Lee’s directors’ chair. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“But he had such a full life as a child. He acted in 20 movies. He was the cha-cha champion of Hong Kong. He was the. . . boxing champion in his high school. He was fighting in rooftop matches and training. . . he was a kid with a lot of energy. And used that energy to the very end.”
And Lee never took a day off.
Bruce Lee began his career as a child actor in the 1940s and started learning Chinese Kung Fu when he was 13. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“There’sa picture we have of my father wherehe’sin this old-school matching pajama top and bottom, andhe’sin the chair . . . passed out asleep,”Shannon laughed.”I remember I told my mom,‘I love this picture, because it shows that he got tired and lazy, too.’She just started laughing hysterically. She said,‘That pictureis staged! Honey, your father never stopped.'”
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According to Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee never took a day off. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“He rested, he believed in the power of sleep. . . heslept eight hours a day, but whenhewas awake, he was always going, always moving,”said Shannon.”Even if hewasreading a book, he would be stretching. If hewaswatching a boxing match, he would be practicing some punches.”
“The apple fell really far from that tree,” she laughed.
Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, began his career as a child actor in the 1940s. He started learning Chinese Kung Fu when he was 13. He moved back to the U.S. in 1959 and studied philosophy at the University of Washington.
Shannon Lee described growing up in a loving household. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
He skyrocketed to fame in Hollywood for his martial arts talents. But when cameras stopped rolling in the’60sand’70s, he fought against racist portrayals of Asians on the big and small screens. He combated racist stereotypes in the U.S. entertainmentindustrywhere Asian menwere often portrayedas servants, unskilled workers or evil geniuses in Hollywood.
Bruce Lee moved back to the U.S. in 1959 and studied philosophy at the University of Washington. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
Lee eventually went back to Hong Kong and made hits like”The Big Boss”and”Fist of Fury.”His last film,”Enter the Dragon,”was released six days after his death and became hismost popularmovie. He was one of the first Asian actors to attain Hollywood mega-stardom and fanned a Kung Fu craze that swept the world.
In putting her book together, Shannon discovered new stories about her father.
BRUCE LEE’S DAUGHTER THINKS QUENTIN TARANTINO ‘COULD SHUT UP’ ABOUT HER FATHER’S PORTRAYAL IN MOVIE
Shannon Lee told Fox News Digital that she had discovered new stories about her father while putting “In My Own Process” together. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“My martial arts instructor, who was one of myfather’sstudents . . . told me this story about this guy, Ted Wong, myfather’sonly student [when he started]. Ted told my dad,‘I really wish I could find a girlfriend.’My dad was like,‘WellTed, we got to get you together.’He took Ted to buy newclothes,get a haircut. He designed a weight regimen for him, so he could get in shape. My dad was like,‘Come on,let’sget some energy in your body.Let’sget you feeling good.’Ted soon met his wife.”
Bruce Lee fought hard against racist stereotypes in the U.S. entertainment industry, where Asian men were often portrayed as servants, unskilled workers or evil geniuses in Hollywood. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“When mydad’sassistant instructor at his Oakland school fell ill, my dad helped him to finish writing his book so that he could get the proceeds for his medical treatments,”Shannon continued.”That’sa side a lot of peopledon’tsee. Theyjustsee the martial arts guy, the action hero, the teacher and the philosopher. But he was also a heart-centered human being.”
Today, Shannon is determined to keep herfather’slegacy alive for a new generation of fans discovering his work – and lessons.
Bruce Lee’s last film, “Enter the Dragon,” was released six days after his death. (Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC)
“When you encounter Bruce Lee, you feel your energy lift,”she reflected.”You feel invigorated. Andthat’swhat I want to celebrate.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
