Spike Lee

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Ossie Davis and Spike Lee in Do the Right Thing

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Spike Lee summary

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Spike Lee at the 2007 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

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Spike Lee: Facts & Related Content

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News •

Spike Lee on the collision of his two passions, the Knicks and cinema, in Cannes • May 21, 2025, 9:01 AM ET (AP)

Denzel Washington receives surprise honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes premiere for 'Highest 2 Lowest' • May 20, 2025, 3:39 AM ET (AP)

Pacers-Knicks renew a rivalry with memorable moments involving Reggie Miller, Spike Lee and others • May 19, 2025, 3:04 PM ET (AP)

Inside the Met Gala: Under a petal-filled sky, guests honor Black style, hail a ‘monumental night’ • May 6, 2025, 12:20 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Shelton Jackson Lee
Born	March 20, 1957 (age 68) • Atlanta • Georgia
Awards And Honors	Academy Award (2019) • Academy Award (2016) • Academy Award (2019): Writing (Adapted Screenplay) • Honorary Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2016) • Emmy Award (2007): Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking • Emmy Award (2007): Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking • Emmy Award (2007): Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming • Emmy Award (2007): Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
Notable Works	“25th Hour” • “4 Little Girls” • “Bamboozled” • “BlacKkKlansman” • “Chi-Raq” • “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus” • “Do the Right Thing” • “Get on the Bus” • “Girl 6” • “He Got Game” • “Inside Man” • “Jungle Fever” • “Malcolm X” • “Mo’ Better Blues” • “NYC Epicenters 9/11–20211/2” • “Oldboy” • “School Daze” • “She’s Gotta Have It” • “The Original Kings of Comedy“ • “When the Levees Broke”
Notable Family Members	son of Bill Lee • son of Jacquelyn Shelton Lee • married to Tonya Lewis Lee (1993–present) • father of Satchel Lee (b. 1994) • father of Jackson Lee (b. 1997) • brother of Christopher Lee • brother of David Lee • brother of Joie Lee • brother of Cinqué Lee • half brother of Arnold Lee
Education	Morehouse College (B.A., 1979) • New York University (M.F.A.)
Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In)	"Summer of Sam" (1999) • "30 for 30" (2010) • "Just for Me Stories" (2001) • "3 A.M." (2001) • "Clockers" (1995) • "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) • "School Daze" (1988) • "Jungle Fever" (1991) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "Girl 6" (1996) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "Malcolm X" (1992) • "Black-ish" (2020) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) • "Do the Right Thing" (1989) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2017–2019) • "Crooklyn" (1994) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2019) • "Ghostwriter" (1992) • "Lisa Picard Is Famous" (2000)
Movies/Tv Shows (Directed)	"Jungle Fever" (1991) • "4 Little Girls" (1997) • "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (1995) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) • "Oldboy" (2013) • "Bad 25" (2012) • "Shark" (2006) • "Great Performances" (1998–2009) • "The Original Kings of Comedy" (2000) • "Do the Right Thing" (1989) • "Go Brasil Go!" (2014) • "Malcolm X" (1992) • "25th Hour" (2002) • "Crooklyn" (1994) • "Miracle's Boys" (2005) • "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1983) • "4 Little Girls" (1997) • "Girl 6" (1996) • "Summer of Sam" (1999) • "Bamboozled" (2000) • "Crooklyn" (1994) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) • "Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall" (2016) • "Malcolm X" (1992) • "Pass Over" (2018) • "Rodney King" (2017) • "She Hate Me" (2004) • "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008) • "Go Brasil Go!" (2014) • "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1983) • "Bamboozled" (2000) • "Clockers" (1995) • "Jungle Fever" (1991) • "If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise" (2010) • "Da 5 Bloods" (2020) • "Miracle's Boys" (2005) • "BlacKkKlansman" (2018) • "Girl 6" (1996) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2017–2019) • "Chi-Raq" (2015) • "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) • "Get on the Bus" (1996) • "School Daze" (1988) • "25th Hour" (2002) • "Rodney King" (2017) • "All the Invisible Children" (2005) • "Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet" (2002) • "Oldboy" (2013) • "All the Invisible Children" (2005) • "Chi-Raq" (2015) • "BlacKkKlansman" (2018) • "Shark" (2006) • "Pass Over" (2018) • "Passing Strange" (2009) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "Spike Lee's Lil Joints" (2015–2016) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2017–2019) • "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008) • "Great Performances" (1998–2009) • "Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall" (2016) • "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) • "He Got Game" (1998) • "He Got Game" (1998) • "She Hate Me" (2004) • "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" (2014) • "The Original Kings of Comedy" (2000) • "Clockers" (1995) • "Passing Strange" (2009) • "If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise" (2010) • "Inside Man" (2006) • "Bad 25" (2012) • "School Daze" (1988) • "Lumière and Company" (1995) • "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" (2014) • "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (1995) • "Lumière and Company" (1995) • "Summer of Sam" (1999) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "Spike Lee's Lil Joints" (2015–2016) • "Do the Right Thing" (1989) • "Inside Man" (2006) • "Get on the Bus" (1996) • "Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet" (2002)
Movies/Tv Shows (Writing/Creator)	"Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1983) • "School Daze" (1988) • "Crooklyn" (1994) • "Malcolm X" (1992) • "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2017–2019) • "BlacKkKlansman" (2018) • "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (1995) • "Do the Right Thing" (1989) • "She's Gotta Have It" (2017–2019) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) • "Chi-Raq" (2015) • "Summer of Sam" (1999) • "He Got Game" (1998) • "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" (2014) • "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1983) • "He Got Game" (1998) • "Malcolm X" (1992) • "Jungle Fever" (1991) • "Clockers" (1995) • "Bamboozled" (2000) • "She Hate Me" (2004) • "Red Hook Summer" (2012) • "Clockers" (1995) • "Summer of Sam" (1999) • "She Hate Me" (2004) • "Bamboozled" (2000) • "Do the Right Thing" (1989) • "Crooklyn" (1994) • "Da 5 Bloods" (2020) • "Chi-Raq" (2015) • "School Daze" (1988) • "Jungle Fever" (1991) • "BlacKkKlansman" (2018) • "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (1995) • "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) • "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" (2014)
Movies/Tv Shows (Film Editor)	"Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1983) • "She's Gotta Have It" (1986)

Top Questions

Where was Spike Lee born?

Spike Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

When was Spike Lee born?

Spike Lee was born on March 20, 1957.

Photos

Ossie Davis and Spike Lee in Do the Right Thing

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