Spike Lee

Fine artist Shelton Jackson Lee was born March 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia to William "Bill" Lee, a jazz composer and bassist, and Jacqueline Shelton Lee, an art teacher. His mother, who died in 1977 of cancer, nicknamed him "Spike" as toddler, evidently alluding to his toughness. Spike grew up the oldest three brothers, David, Cinque, and Chris, and one sister, Joie. The family moved from Atlanta shortly after Lee's birth and lived briefly in Chicago. In 1959 they moved to Brooklyn's predominantly black Fort Greene section. Jacqueline Lee provided a rich cultural upbringing that included plays, galleries, museums, movies. Bill Lee saw that the family experienced music, occasionally taking them to his performances at the Blue Note and to other Manhattan jazz clubs. Lee is about five-feet six-inches tall and has a mustache and small beard. He wears glasses. Lee is a dedicated New York Knicks fan and has been known to plan film projects around the Knicks' basketball schedule. Lee is unusual in the filmmaking business in that he not only writes, directs, and produces, but also acts in all his films, although most of his roles are marginal. He does not consider himself an actor, but feels it creates box office appeal. Known as one of the most original and innovative filmmakers in the world, Lee presents the different facets of black culture. He will probably continue to court controversy, but with his savvy and salesmanship skills, Spike Lee will remain a significant influence in the entertainment world.

Spike Lee Jointography (up to 1996)
Feature Films
Jackie Robinson Saga: In pre-porduction -- 1997
Girl 6 -- 1996
Clockers -- 1995
Crooklyn -- 1994
Malcolm X -- 1992
Jungle Fever -- 1991
Mo' Better Blues -- 1990
Do The Right Thing -- 1989
School Daze -- 1988
She's Gotta Have It -- 1986
Executive Producer
Tales From The Hood -- 1995
New Jersey Drive -- 1995
Drop Squad -- 1994
Music Videos
Chaka Khan: Love Me Still -- 1995
Bruce Hornsby: Swing Street -- 1995
Crooklyn Dodgers: Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers -- 1995
MCAT: Oh My Precious -- 1994
Branford Marsalis: Breakfast At Denny's -- 1994
Marc Dorsey: People Make The World Go Around -- 1994
Crooklyn Dodgers: Crooklyn -- 1994
Eros Ramizotti: Cose Della Vita -- 1993
Guru: Loungin -- 1993
Bruce Hornsby: Talk Of The Town -- 1993
Naughty By Nature: Hip Hop Hurray -- 1992
Arrested Development: Revolution -- 1992
State Of Art: Beating Heart -- 1992
State Of Art: Laughing At The Years -- 1992
Prince: Money Don't Matter -- 1992
Stevie Wonder: Make Sure You're Sure -- 1992
Stevie Wonder: Gotta Have You -- 1991
Stevie Wonder: Jungle Fever -- 1991
The Home Boy Project: Do Your Dance -- 1991
Fishbone: Sunless Saturday -- 1991
Cynda Williams: Harlem Blues -- 1990
Gangstarr: Jazz Thing -- 1990
E.U.: Buck Wild -- 1989
Public Enemy: Fight The Power -- 1989
Perri Sisters: Feel So Good -- 1989
E.U.: Da Butt -- 1988
The Rays: Be Alone Tonight -- 1988
Phyliss Hyman: Be One -- 1988
Keith John: I Can Only Be Me -- 1988
Steel Pulse: Reachin Out -- 1988
Anita Baker: No One In The World -- 1987
She's Gotta Have It: 'Nola -- 1986
Miles Davis: Tutu Meledy -- 1986
Branford Marsalis: Royal Gardens -- 1986
Short Films
HBO: Real Sports "John Thompson" Coach -- 1995\
HBO: Iron Mike Tyson -- 1991
MTV: Five One Minute Spots -- 1989
Horn Of Plenty: Saturday Night Live -- 1986
Student Films (New York University)
Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads -- 1982
Sarah -- 1981
The Answer -- 1980
Commercials
NY Times -- 1995
Nike: Pick-Up Game -- 1995
Taco Bell: Shaquille O'Neal & Hakeem Olajowon -- 1995
Nike: Mike & Spike -- 1995
American Express: Charge Against Hunger -- 1995
Smooth Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry's -- 1994
Mascot: ESPN 2 -- 1993
Tucked -- ESPN -- 1993
3 Point Line: ESPN 2 -- 1993
DORM 1-800-OPERATOR: AT&T -- 1993
Girls Night Out: AT&T -- 1993
Urban Jungle Gym: Nike -- 1992
Is It Da' Shoes Air Jordan: Nike -- 1991
Levi's 501: Butterfly Jeans Series -- 1991
En Vogue: DIET COKE -- 1991
Genie/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1991
Stay In School/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1991
Flight School/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1991
Levi's Button Fly Jeans Series: Levi's -- 1990
Opinions/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1990
Rappin/Air Jordan: Nike -- 1989
Can...Can't /Air Jordan: Nike -- 1989
Nola Air Jordan: Nike -- 1989
Hang Time/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1988
Cover/ Air Jordan: Nike -- 1988
Charles Barkely: Nike -- 1988
Jesse Jackson Drugs: New York State Primary -- 1988
Books
By Any Means Necessary: The Trials And Tribulations Of Making Malcolm X -- 1993
5 For 5 -- 1992
Mo' Better Blues -- 1991
Do The Right Thing: A Spike Lee Joint -- 1990
Uplift the Race: The Construction Of School Daze -- 1989
Spike Lee's Gotta Have It: Inside Guerrilla Filmmaking -- 1988