How did Bruce Lee die? Since Bruce Lee’s untimely death at the age of 32, there has been much speculation surrounding the circumstances of his demise. There are many theories and rumors surrounding Bruce Lee’s death, but cerebral edema, or brain swelling, is the most likely cause.
So, how did Bruce Lee die? Before we can answer that question, let’s take a look at the life of this martial arts legend.
Who Was Bruce Lee?
If you’re a fan of martial arts movies, then you’ve heard of Bruce Lee. Even if you’re not a fan of martial arts movies, this is a name you’ve probably still heard before.
Bruce Lee was a Chinese-American actor, director, martial artist, and philosopher. Many people consider him the father of mixed martial arts, as he was one of the first to bring different styles of martial arts together.
Where Was Bruce Lee Born?
Bruce Lee Childhood
Bruce Lee’s martial arts training began when he was six. His father, Lee Hoi Chuen, was a Cantonese opera star, and he taught Bruce Lee the basics of Wing Chun. When Bruce Lee was thirteen years old, he started learning other martial arts styles, including Western boxing, fencing, and jujutsu.
Lee also started dance training at a young age. He learned the cha-cha at thirteen years old, and in 1958, he won the Hong Kong cha-cha championship.
As a teenager, Bruce Lee was a bit of a troublemaker. He formed a street gang, and he got into several street fights. He was even arrested once for fighting with a rival gang.
Eventually, Bruce Lee’s father realized that his son needed to get away from Hong Kong and the bad influences there. So, he arranged for Bruce Lee to study in the United States.
Bruce Lee’s Years in the United States
Bruce Lee arrived in San Francisco on February 10th, 1959. He then took a train to Seattle, Washington, to live with his aunt and uncle. Bruce Lee attended high school in Seattle and started studying philosophy at the University of Washington.
While in Seattle, Lee also began teaching martial arts. He opened his school, which he called the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.
Eventually, Bruce Lee left Seattle and moved to Oakland, California. He enrolled in college there and opened another martial arts school. During this time, Bruce Lee met his future wife, Linda Lee Cadwell.
Bruce Lee’s Return to Hong Kong
In 1971, Bruce Lee returned to Hong Kong to pursue a career in acting. He started by appearing in minor roles in a few movies. His first significant role was in the film The Big Boss, which was a huge success in Hong Kong.
Bruce Lee’s Acting Career
Bruce Lee’s acting career took off after he returned to Hong Kong. He starred in martial arts movies, including Fists of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, and Enter the Dragon. He quickly became a world-renowned martial arts movie star.
Tragically, Bruce Lee’s life was cut short, and he died before he could make any more movies. So, what exactly happened?
When Did Bruce Lee Die and How Did He Die?
Bruce Lee died on July 20th, 1973. He was just 32 years old. According to the official autopsy report, the cause of death was “cerebral edema due to a reaction to Equagesic.” Equagesic was a painkiller that contained both aspirin and meprobamate.
There are many theories about how Bruce Lee died, but the most likely explanation is that he had an allergic reaction to the meprobamate in the Equagesic. We’ll discuss some of the other theories later.
Now, let’s get back to the events leading up to Bruce Lee’s death.
Early Signs of Illness
The signs of Bruce Lee’s impending death began a few months before he died. In May of 1973, Bruce Lee was working on the movie Enter the Dragon in Hong Kong. He suddenly started having headaches, and he felt weak and dizzy.
On May 10, 1973, Bruce Lee collapsed while filming a fight scene. The crew called for an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with cerebral edema, which is a condition that causes the brain to swell. They treated him with mannitol, and Bruce Lee felt well enough to go home after a brief stay in the hospital.
Bruce Lee Death
On July 20th, 1973, Bruce Lee was in Hong Kong again, working on the movie Game of Death. This was a busy day for Lee, as he had to meet with the movie’s producer, Raymond Chow, and film a fight scene.
On this day, Bruce Lee acted scene after scene with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, despite the high temperatures. After filming the fight scene, Bruce Lee went to Betty Ting’s apartment to rest. Betty Ting was a Taiwanese actress Bruce Lee had worked with on several movies.
Bruce spent several hours with Betty Ting at her apartment. At around 6 pm, Raymond Chow came to pick up Bruce Lee so they could have dinner with some friends. When Bruce Lee got up to leave, he complained of a headache. Betty Ting gave him some Equagesic (the painkiller that contained aspirin and meprobamate).
Bruce Lee then went to lie down, and he told Betty Ting that he would take a nap before dinner. When Bruce Lee didn’t come out of his room, Betty Ting checked on him. She found him unresponsive. She called Raymond Chow, and they both tried to wake Bruce Lee, but he was unresponsive. They called a doctor who tried reviving him, but still, Bruce Lee didn’t wake up.
They then called an ambulance to rush Lee to the hospital. The hospital pronounced the martial arts legend dead on arrival.
The Autopsy Report
Doctors prepared Bruce Lee’s body for autopsy at Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital a few days after his death. The autopsy report showed that Bruce Lee didn’t suffer any head injuries or broken bones. The only thing that was out of the ordinary was that his brain size was slightly larger than average (a 13 percent increase).
The doctors who performed the autopsy couldn’t find any explanation for Bruce Lee’s death. They ruled out brain damage, foul play, and natural causes. They only found that Bruce Lee had died of “severe brain swelling caused by a reaction to Equagesic.”
Who Was Bruce Lee’s Son?
Brandon Lee was Bruce Lee’s only son. Born on February 1, 1965, in Oakland, California, Brandon Lee was just eight years old when his father died.
Brandon Lee followed in his father’s footsteps and became an actor. He starred in the movies The Crow (1994) and Rapid Fire (1992).
Tragically, Brandon Lee also died young.
How Did Bruce Lee’s Son Die?
Brandon Lee died on the set of The Crow on March 31, 1993. He was 28 years old.
Here’s what happened:
During the filming of a scene, the actor playing opposite Brandon Lee, Michael Massee, was supposed to shoot Lee with a blank gun. But there was a problem with the prop gun, and a real bullet ended up in the chamber. When Massee fired the gun, the real bullet hit Lee in the abdomen, and he died later that day at the hospital.
The police investigated the incident and ruled it an accident. A grand jury also cleared Massee of any wrongdoing.
Michael Massee later said that he blamed himself for Brandon Lee’s death and that the incident haunted him for the rest of his life. He vowed never to watch The Crow, the movie he was filming when Lee died. Massee died in 2016 at the age of 64.
Brandon Lee’s death was eerily similar to his father’s. Both men died young (28 and 32, respectively), and both died in mysterious circumstances.
A List of Bruce Lee Movies
Bruce Lee was only 32 years old when he died, but he had already made a huge impact on the world of martial arts and action movies.
Here’s a list of some of Bruce Lee’s most popular movies:
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Considered by many to be Bruce Lee’s best movie, Enter the Dragon was Lee’s only Hollywood-produced film. The movie was a huge success and credited with popularizing martial arts films in the West.
The plot of Enter the Dragon revolves around a martial arts tournament on an island owned by a villainous crime lord. Lee’s character, an undercover agent, is sent to the island to gather evidence against the crime lord.
The movie features some of Bruce Lee’s most famous fight scenes, including the now-iconic “mirror scene” in which Lee fights himself.
Way of the Dragon (1972)
Way of the Dragon was Bruce Lee’s first directorial effort. The movie is set in Rome and follows a Chinese man, Tang Lung (played by Lee), sent to help his cousin’s struggling restaurant.
Tang Lung quickly realizes that he’s in over his head when he comes up against the local mafia, who are trying to muscle in on the restaurant.
The final fight scene of the Way Dragon is one of the best in any martial arts movie. It takes place in Rome’s Colosseum and features Bruce Lee taking on Chuck Norris, who was then a rising star in martial arts movies.
Fist of Fury (1972)
Fist of Fury is set in Shanghai and follows a student of Bruce Lee’s character, Chen Zhen. When Japanese students kill Chen Zhen’s master, he sets out to take revenge.
Fist of Fury is notable for its patriotic themes and anti-Japanese sentiment. The movie was a huge hit in China and cemented Bruce Lee’s status as a national hero.
The Big Boss (1971)
The Big Boss was Bruce Lee’s first starring role. The movie is set in Thailand and follows a young man who goes to work in an ice factory.
He quickly realizes that the factory is a front for a drug operation and that there is exploitation of workers. When he tries to stand up to the boss, he’s met with violence.
The Big Boss was a huge success in Asia and helped make Bruce Lee a household name.
Game of Death (1978)
Game of Death was Bruce Lee’s last movie. The directors completed the movie after Lee’s death using archive footage and stand-ins.
The movie is notable for its climactic fight scene, which features a brawl between Lee and a group of martial arts masters. Bruce Lee’s character is also wearing his iconic yellow jumpsuit in the scene. He had originally intended to use the scene to showcase his martial arts skills.
Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Who Killed Bruce Lee
There are many theories surrounding Bruce Lee’s cause of death. Some believe that the Chinese Mafia killed him. Others believe that the CIA killed him because he was becoming too popular.
There are also theories that a prostitute killed him.
The most popular theory is that the fatal dose administered by Betty Pei was on purpose. The rumors claim that Betty was working for a secret society that wanted Lee eliminated.
According to Chuck Norris, Lee’s friend, the muscle relaxants Lee was taking interacted badly with the stimulant he was also taking, which caused his death. This still remains a theory.
All these theories exist because the official story of Bruce Lee’s death is very suspicious. However, the coroner’s report ruled that Lee died of “cerebral edema due to a reaction to Equagesic.” This means that Bruce Lee’s death was most likely due to an accident.
Is Bruce Lee Chinese?
Bruce Lee’s nationality is American and Chinese. His father, Lee Hoi-Chuen, was a Chinese opera singer. His mother, Grace Ho, was of Chinese and German descent. Bruce Lee embraced his Chinese heritage, and in fact, the Chinese consider him a Chinese national hero.
What did Bruce Lee Weigh?
Bruce Lee weighed approximately 130 pounds (59 kilograms)
Other FAQs
How Did Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee Die?
Bruce Lee died from cerebral edema, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain. Brandon Lee died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen while filming The Crow (1994).
How Old Was Bruce Lee When He Died?
Bruce Lee was 32 years old when he met his untimely death. Bruce Lee’s age would have been 82 years old if he were alive today (2022).
Who Killed Bruce Lee?
Official autopsy reports say that Bruce Lee died from cerebral edema due to a reaction to Equagesic. However, many theories exist about who might have killed Bruce Lee.
What Did Bruce Lee Die Of?
Bruce Lee died from severe brain swelling (cerebral edema) due to a reaction to Equagesic.
The End
Bruce Lee’s death was a tragedy that shocked the world. A young man with so much talent and potential gone too soon. Thankfully, his legacy lives on through his movies and the martial arts style he created.
Bruce Lee’s images are still popular today, and his memory is kept alive by his fans all over the world. His death is a reminder that even super-humans are mortal.
Keep resting in peace, Bruce Lee. The Kung Fu world will never forget you.