Name/Title
Photograph of Bruce Lee in martial arts demonstrationEntry/Object ID
L2021.4.107Description
Long Beach Karate Championships, 1967, Bruce Lee demonstrating his one-inch punch.Context
Bruce Lee was discovered at the Long Beach Karate Tournament. He was offered a screen test audition for the Number One Son episode. He ended up not taking the role due to its stereotyping and caricature of the Chinese.
Instead, he was offered the role as Kato. Cast as a side kick and paid the least of all the actors on the set, Lee had break out success. Soon he eclipsed the white lead actor as the star of the show.
Digital asset from the Bruce Lee Foundation; the image shows part of the demonstration performed during the 1967 event. Bruce Lee was also at the same event in 1964. Loan item number L2021.2.089 is the program from that event.Intake
Loan In
L2021.4Lender
Bruce Lee Foundation