Spike Lee

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March 20, 1957

Shelton Jackson Lee

Tonya Lewis Lee (October 2, 1993 - present) 2 children

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Director

Red Hook Summer (2012)

Da Brick (TV movie) (2011)

If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2010)

Inside Man 2 (2010)(producer)

Untitled Michael Jordan Documentary (2009) (producer, writer)

Kobe Doin' Work (2009) (TV) (producer)

Passing Strange (2009) (TV)

Miracle at St. Anna (2008) (producer)

M.O.N.Y. (2008) (TV)

Lovers & Haters (2007)

Shark (1 episode, 2006)

"When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2 episodes, 2006) (producer)

Inside Man (2006)

All the Invisible Children (2005) (segment "Jesus Children of America") (producer)

Jesus Children of America (2005) (producer)

"Miracle's Boys" (2 episodes, 2005)

Sucker Free City (2004) (TV) (producer)

She Hate Me (2004) (producer, writer)

25th Hour (2002) (producer)

Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002) (segment "We Wuz Robbed") (producer)

Jim Brown: All American (2002) (TV) (producer)

Come Rain or Come Shine (2001)

The Concert for New York City (2001) (TV) (segment "Come Rain or Come Shine")

A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) (TV)

The Making of 'Bamboozled' (2001)

Bamboozled (2000) (producer, writer)

The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) (producer)

And Ya Don't Stop: Hip Hop's Greatest Videos, Vol. 1 (2000) (video "Fight the Power")

Summer of Sam (1999)(producer, writer, actor)

Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo (1999) (TV)

Great Performances (TV series) (2 episodes, 1998-2009)

Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia (1998) (TV)

Freak (1998) (TV)

He Got Game (1998) (producer, writer)

4 Little Girls (1997) (producer)

Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (1997) (video "They Don't Care About Us")

Get on the Bus (1996) (producer)

Girl 6 (1996) (producer, actor)

Lumière et compagnie (1995)

Clockers (1995) (producer, writer, actor)

Crooklyn (1994) (producer, writer, actor)

Malcolm X (1992) (producer, writer, actor)

Jungle Fever (1991) (producer, writer, actor)

Mo' Better Blues (1990) (producer, writer, actor)

Do the Right Thing (1989) (producer, writer, actor)

School Daze (1988) (producer, writer, actor)

She's Gotta Have It (1986) (producer, writer, actor)

Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983 (producer, writer)

Sarah (1981)

The Answer (1980)

Last Hustle in Brooklyn (1977)

Producer

The Girl Is in Trouble (executive producer) (2012)

You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You (executive producer) (2012)

Red Hook Summer (producer) (2012)

Doubles with Slight Pepper (short) (executive producer) (2011)

Pariah (executive producer) (2011)

Da Brick (TV movie) (executive producer) (2011)

If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (TV series documentary) (producer) (1 episode, 2010)

Dream Street (2010) (executive producer)

Evolution of a Criminal (2009) (executive producer)

You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You (2009) (executive producer)

Saint John of Las Vegas (2009) (executive producer)

Good Fences (2003) (TV) (executive producer)

Home Invaders (2001) (executive producer)

3 A.M. (2001) (co-executive producer, actor, producer)

Love & Basketball (2000) (producer)

The Best Man (1999) (producer)

Tales from the Hood (1995) (executive producer)

New Jersey Drive (1995) (executive producer)

Drop Squad (1994) (executive producer)

Coca Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer (1991) (TV) (segment producer) (segment "Fishbone")

Writer

Red Hook Summer (screenplay) (2012)

She Hate Me (screenplay) (2004)

Bamboozled (writer) (2000)

Summer of Sam (writer) (1999)

He Got Game (writer) (1998)

Clockers (screenplay) (1995)

Crooklyn (1994)

Malcolm X (screenplay) (1992)

Jungle Fever (writer) (1991)

Mo' Better Blues (writer) (1990)

Do the Right Thing (writer) (1989)

School Daze (writer) (1988)

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (writer) (1983)

Actor

Red Hook Summer (2012)

3 A.M. (2001)

Summer of Sam (1999)

Girl 6 (1996)

Clockers (1995)

Crooklyn (1994)

Ghostwriter (TV series) (1 episode, 1992)

Malcolm X (1992)

Jungle Fever (1991)

Mo' Better Blues (1990)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

School Daze (1988)

Saturday Night Live (TV series) (1 episode, 1986)

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

"Ghostwriter" (1 episode, 1992)

Saturday Night Live (1 episode, 1986)

Appearances

Hollywood Renegade (documentary) (2012)

The BET Honors (TV special) (2012)

Brooklyn Boheme (documentary) (2011)

A Man's Story (documentary) (2010)

The Charlie Rose Show (TV series) (13 episodes, 1995-2010)

We the People: From Crispus Attucks to President Barack Obama (documentary) (post-production) (2010)

Good Morning America (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Who Do You Think You Are? (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2010)

The Brian McKnight Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Greatest Team You Never Heard Of (documentary) (2010)

30 for 30 (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

With All Due Respect (TV movie) (2009)

Bring Your 'A' Game (2009)

I Believe in Miracles (2009)

"Newsnight" (1 episode, 2009)

Late Show with David Letterman (1 episode, 2009)

Entertainment Tonight (3 episodes, 2008)

"Up Close with Carrie Keagan" (1 episode, 2008)

"Showbiz Tonight" (1 episode, 2008)

40 x 15 (2008)

Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies (2008)

Lights! Action! Music! (2007) (TV)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition (2007) (TV)

That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 (2007) (TV)

"Stars on Stars" (2 episodes, 2007)

Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy (2007) (TV)

The 100 Best Black Movies (Ever) (2007

The 12th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2007) (TV)

Ali's 65 (2007) (TV)

Pixote, in memorian (2007)

"Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith" (1 episode, 2006)

The 2006 Black Movie Awards (2006) (TV)

Real Time with Bill Maher (2 episodes, 2005-2006)

"This Week" (1 episode, 2006)

"When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006) TV mini-series

"Tavis Smiley" (3 episodes, 2004-2006)

Chappelle's Show (1 episode, 2006)

2006 MTV Movie Awards (2006) (TV)

Legends Ball (2006) (TV)

The Ultimate Heist: Making 'Inside Man' (2006) (TV)

"TV One on One" (1 episode, 2006)

Inside Men: Denzel & Spike - Man to Man (2006) (TV)

"Corazón de..." (1 episode, 2006)

"HARDtalk Extra" (1 episode, 2006)

"That's What I'm Talking About" (1 episode, 2006)

An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder (2006) (TV)

"CenterStage" (1 episode, 2005)

2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors (2005) (TV)

"Movies That Shook the World" (1 episode, 2005)

There Is No Direction (2005)

Street Fight (2005)

Through the Fire (2005)

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) (2005)

Birth of a Nation: The Making of 'School Daze' (2005)

Making a Mark (2005)

College Daze (2005)

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' (2005)

The Difference (2004)

"Comme au cinéma" (1 episode, 2004)

Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and Dr. Strangelove (2004)

No Fighting in the War Room or Dr. Strangelove and the Nuclear Threat (2004)

Five Directors on 'The Battle of Algiers' (2004)

"Film '72" (1 episode, 2004)

"Film School" (2004) TV series

The Daily Show (1 episode, 2004)

The View (1 episode, 2004)

"ESPN SportsCentury" (1 episode, 2004)

Spike Lee's '25th Hour': The Evolution of an American Filmmaker (2003)

"Breakfast" (1 episode, 2003)

34th NAACP Image Awards (2003) (TV)

2003 Trumpet Awards (2003) (TV)

"Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson" (1 episode, 2002)

A Tribe Called Quest: The Video Anthology (2002) (segment "Scenario")

New York at the Movies (2002) (TV)

It's Black Entertainment (2002) (TV)

"Independent View" (2002) TV series

The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' (2002)

The Making of 'Bamboozled' (2001)

The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2001) (TV) (uncredited)

Inside the Actors Studio (1 episode, 2000)

Famous (2000)

Michael Jordan to the Max (2000)

"Arena" (1 episode, 2000)

"The Chris Rock Show" (1 episode, 1999)

"Magacine" (1 episode, 1999)

"I'll Make Me a World" (1999) TV mini-series

Film-Fest DVD: Issue 2 - Cannes (1999)

"The Directors" (1 episode)

Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia (1998) (TV)

Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1 episode, 1998)

Wie man die Leute von ihrem Geld trennt (1998) (TV)

4 Little Girls (1997) (voice) (uncredited)

When We Were Kings (1996)

Lumière et compagnie (1995) (segment "Sarah Moon")

"American Cinema" (1 episode)

Drop Squad (1994)

The Essence Awards (1994) (TV)

A Century of Cinema (1994)

Hoop Dreams (1994) (Film director)

Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993)

The Last Party (1993)

Abbey Lincoln: You Gotta Pay the Band (1993) (TV)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1 episode, 1993)

Rock the Vote (1993) (TV)

"The Arsenio Hall Show" (1 episode, 1992)

The 64th Annual The Academy Awards (1992) (TV)

Oliver Stone: Inside Out (1992) (TV)

Our Hollywood Education (1992)

Saturday Night Live (1 episode, 1991)

MTV's 10th Anniversary Special (1991) (TV)

A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan (1991) (TV)

Lonely in America (1990)

"Great Performances" (1 episode, 1990)

The 62nd Annual The Academy Awards (1990) (TV)

American Tribute to Vaclav Havel and a Celebration of Democracy in Czechoslovakia (1990) (TV)

"Ebony/Jet Showcase" (2 episodes, 1988-1990)

The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards (1990) (TV)

22nd NAACP Image Awards (1990) (TV)

Story of a People: The Black Road to Hollywood (1990) (TV)

Making 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) (TV)

First Works (1989) (TV)

21st NAACP Image Awards (1989) (TV)

Decade (1989)

"The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross" (1 episode, 1988)

20th NAACP Image Awards (1988) (TV)

The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards (1988) (TV)

Academy Awards

1998 Nominated Oscar Best Documentary, Features for: 4 Little Girls (1997). Shared with: Samuel D. Pollard

1990 Nominated Oscar Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Acapulco Black Film Festival

1999 Nominated Black Film Award Best Director for: He Got Game (1998)

1999 Nominated Black Film Award Best Screenplay for: He Got Game (1998)

1998 Nominated Black Film Award Best Director for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

American Black Film Festival

2004 Won Innovator Award

Atlanta Film Festival

2005 Ossie Davis Award

BAFTA Awards

2002 Special Award

BET Comedy Awards

2005 Nominated BET Comedy Award Outstanding Directing for a Theatrical Film for: She Hate Me (2004)

2005 Nominated BET Comedy Award Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film for: She Hate Me (2004). Shared with: Michael Genet

Berlin International Film Festival

2003 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: 25th Hour (2002)

2001 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Bamboozled (2000)

1997 Won Special Mention for: Get on the Bus (1996) for the exemplary ensemble acting of the whole team

1997 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Get on the Bus (1996)

1993 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Malcolm X (1992)

Black Movie Awards

2006 Won Black Movie Award Best Director for: Inside Man (2006)

Black Reel Awards

2011 Won Black Reel Best Television Documentary for: "If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise" (2010)

2010 Nominated Black Reel Best Director for: "Great Performances: Passing Strange (#38.7)" (2009)br
2010 Nominated Black Reel Best Documentary for: "Great Performances" (1971) for: the performance of Passing Strange

2008 Nominated Black Reel Best Director for: Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

2007 Won Black Reel Best Director for: Inside Man (2006)

2006 Nominated Black Reel Best Director Television for: "Miracle's Boys" (2005). Shared with: Bill Duke, Ernest R. Dickerson, Neema Barnette, LeVar Burton & Kevin Arkadie

2006 Nominated Black Reel Best Director Television for: Sucker Free City (2004) (TV)

2005 Nominated Black Reel Best Director for: She Hate Me (2004)

2005 Nominated Black Reel Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted for: She Hate Me (2004). Shared with: Michael Genet

2003 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical Best Director for: 25th Hour (2002)

2002 Nominated Black Reel Network/Cable Best Director for: A Huey P. Newton Story (2001)(TV)

2001 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical Best Director for: Bamboozled (2000)

2001 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) for: Bamboozled (2000)

2000 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical Best Director for: Summer of Sam (1999)

2000 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) for: Summer of Sam (1999)

Cannes Film Festival

1991 Won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Special Mention for: Jungle Fever (1991)

1991 Nominated Golden Palm for: Jungle Fever (1991)

1989 Nominated Golden Palm for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

1986 Won Award of the Youth Foreign Film for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

1993 Won CFCA Award Best Director for: Malcolm X (1992)

1990 Won CFCA Award Best Director for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Cinequest San Jose Film Festival

2001 Maverick Tribute Award

César Awards, France

2003 Honorary César

Emmy Awards

2007 Won Emmy Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006). Shared with: Samuel D. Pollard (producer), Sheila Nevins (executive producer) & Jacqueline Glover (supervising producer)

2007 Won Emmy Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

1998 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Non-Fiction Special for: 4 Little Girls (1997). Shared with: Samuel D. Pollard, Daphne McWilliams (line producer), Jacqueline Glover (co-ordinating producer), Sheila Nevins (executive producer)

Empire Awards, UK

1999 Inspiration Award

Golden Globe Awards

1990 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

1990 Nominated Golden Globe Best Screenplay - Motion Picture for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Gotham Awards

1992 Won Filmmaker Award

Image Awards

2010 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture Theatrical or Television for: "Great Performances: Passing Strange (#38.7)" (2009)

2009 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)
for: Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

2007 Won Image Award Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie - Comedy or Drama
for: Inside Man (2006)

Independent Spirit Awards

2001 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature for: Love & Basketball (2000). Shared with: Gina Prince-Bythewood (director), Sam Kitt (producer)

1987 Won Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

International Documentary Association

1998 Nominated IDA Award Feature Documentaries for: 4 Little Girls (1997). Shared with: Samuel D. Pollard

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2003 Lifetime Achievement Award

Locarno International Film Festival

1983 Won Ernest Artaria Award for: Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983). Tied with: Sargento Getúlio (1983)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

1989 Won LAFCA Award Best Director for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

1986 Won New Generation Award for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

MTV Movie Awards

2006 Silver Bucket of Excellence Award

Satellite Awards

1998 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Documentary Film for: 4 Little Girls (1997). Shared with: Samuel D. Pollard

Student Academy Awards, USA

1983 Won Merit Award Dramatic for: Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) New York University.

USC Scripter Award

1993 Nominated USC Scripter Award for: Malcolm X (1992). Shared with: Arnold Perl (screenwriter), Alex Haley (author)& Malcolm X (author)

Valladolid International Film Festival

1999 Nominated Golden Spike for: Summer of Sam (1999)

Venice Film Festival

2006 Won Human Rights Film Network Award for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

2006 Won Venice Horizons Documentary Award for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

1995 Nominated Golden Lion for: Clockers (1995)

1990 Won Filmcritica "Bastone Bianco" Award - Special Mention for: Mo' Better Blues (1990)

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Agents aren't going to get you anywhere if you aren't established.

It has been my observation that parents kill more dreams than anybody.

What's the difference between Hollywood characters and my characters? Mine are real.

I respect the audience's intelligence a lot, and that's why I don't try to go for the lowest common denominator.

Amongst black people, you have always heard it said that once a black man reaches a certain level, especially if you are an entertainer, you get a white trophy woman. I didn't make that up.

Before, I used to think that everything was based on race. Now class matters just as much. If you are a poor person: black, white, Latino, whatever, the Bush Administration does not have your best interests at heart. If the Government thought poor people mattered, the response [to Katrina's disaster] would have been much quicker."

You gotta make your own way. You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It's hard. It's tough. That's what I tell my students every day in class. I've been very fortunate. Some people might call me a hardhead, but I'm not going to let other people dictate to me who I should be or the stories I should tell. That doesn't register with me.

I ain’t Martin Luther King. I don’t need a dream. I have a plan.

Submit Quotes

His father was a jazz musician, and his mother, a school teacher.

His mother dubbed him Spike, due to his tough nature.

He first became interested in film while majoring in communication at Morehouse College and subsequently studied at New York University’s film school where Martin Scorsese was one of his tutors.

The name of his production company, "40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks", came from an unfulfilled promise that many politicians made to freed slaves after the Civil War.

He frequently casts himself in his films.

Every one of his narrative feature films makes reference to baseball teams and players.

He often uses a technique he calls the "double dolly." This is where the camera and the subject are placed on a dolly and pushed through the scene. This makes the subject look like they are floating or gliding.

He has never learned how to drive an automobile.

He is a big New York Knicks fan and has court-side seats for all games.

The Lees bought their 9,800-sq.-ft. Italian palazzo-style home from Jasper Johns in 1998; it was originally built for a Vanderbilt.

After the Columbine high school shootings Spike said that National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston should be shot. Heston replied that if Spike wanted to take a shot at him he should go ahead and try it. Lee later apologized for the comments.

He serves as a master teacher of film at the Tisch School of the Arts and Harvard University.

He is a fan of Michael Moore's films. Bowling for Columbine (2002) was his favorite film of 2002.

Is a big fan of musicals from Hollywood's Golden Age.
His favorite movie is The Deer Hunter (1978). It is the movie that inspired him to be a director.

Must-see Movies

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Malcolm X (1992)

He Got Game (1992)

Inside Man (2006)

Salary

Malcolm X (1992) $3,000,000

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