? November 27, 1940 (Year of the Dragon). Li Jun Fan is born to Li Hoi Cheun and Grace Li in the Jackson St Hospital in San Francisco during the hour of the Dragon. The family returned to Hong Kong early in 1941.
? 1946. Bruce makes his screen debut in a Hong Kong picture called 'The Birth of Mankind' at the age of 6. He went on to appear in about 20 more pictures ending with 'The Orphan' at 18.
? 1953. Bruce begins training in the Wing Chun style of Gung Fu,
under the famous master, Yip Man. He had formerly learnt some Tai Chi from his father.
? 1959. After trouble with the police, it is decided that Bruce should leave Hong Kong and claim his American Citizenship. Before leaving, he is crowned the Crown Colony Cha Cha Champion.
? 1959. Bruce arrives in San Francisco, but soon leaves for Seattle, where he is taken in by Ruby Chow, a friend of his parents. He works in the Chow's restraunt and lives above it. He begins teaching Gung Fu informally in parks, gardens and car parks.
? 1963. Bruce enrolls at the University of Washington and begins teaching students Gung Fu.
Returns to Hong Kong in the summer. He meets and falls in love with Linda Emery. In the Autumn, he opens the first Jun Fan Gung Fu institute at 4750 University Way. He writes a book entitled Chinese Gung Fu, The Philosophical Art of Self Defense.
? 1964. Bruce leaves Seattle to open a second branch of the Institute in Oakland. He returns to Seattle to marry Linda on August 17 and they move to Oakland. He is also spotted by a producer, who screen tests him for a role
in the Charlie Chan detective series. The series is shelved but leads to his role of Kato in the Green Hornet series.
? 1965. Brandon Bruce Lee is born on February 1st. Bruce's father passes away shortly afterwards.
? 1969. Shannon Lee is born on 19th April. Bruce begins planning his first hollywood movie, The Silent Flute.
? 1970. Bruce injures his back while training. The Silent Flute is shelved after a failed trip location hunting in India. Bruce begins to develop his ideas and philosophies on Jeet Kune Do, his own method of fighting.
? 1971. Bruce returns to Hong Kong, where he is met by a great deal of publicity.
Although largely unsuccessfull in the States, the Green Hornet is very popular in Hong Kong and Bruce is a star. Raymond Chaow, owner of the newly formed Golden Harvest film company offers Bruce a two picture deal for $15000. He flies to Thailand and begins filming 'The Big Boss'*. The film is incredibly successful. Bruce becomes a superstar. He begins work on his second film.
? 1972. 'Fist of Fury'* is released with even more success than 'The Big Boss'. It takes $HK 4 million and
cements Bruce's status as a superstar and national hero. He forms a partnership with Raymond Chow called Concord productions and begins work on 'Way of the Dragon'*, writing, directing and starring in the new film.
It is shot in Rome and features some of the top martial artists of the day. It goes on to gross more than $HK 5 million. He than begins work on 'Game of Death', a film he was never to finish (later released with stand-in actors and clips from his other movies).
? 1973. Begins work on 'Enter the Dragon',
the first co-production between the US and Hong Kong film industries. This is to be Bruce's first starring role in a Hollywood feature film, something he has waited all his life for. It is the first of his films to be released world wide.
? 1973. Bruce Lee dies on the 20th July due to swelling of the brain.
The funeral is held five days later in Hong Kong, Thirty thousand people line the streets to say goodbye to their hero. On the 30th, a second, smaller funeral is held in Seattle for family and friends. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery. A few weeks later, 'Enter the Dragon' is released to enormous commercial success. It is a fitting tribute to the 'Little Dragon'.
