Spike Lee
Spike Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American filmmaker and actor. He was born Shelton Lee in Atlanta, Georgia. At a very young age, he moved from pre-civil rights Georgia, to Brooklyn, New York. His father was a jazz musician, and his mother, a school teacher. His mother dubbed him Spike, due to his tough nature. He attended school in Morehouse College in Atlanta and developed his film making skills at Clark Atlanta University. After graduating, he went to the Tisch School of Arts graduate film program. He made a controversial short, The Answer (1980), a reworking of D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915) -- a ten-minute film. Lee went on to produce a 45-minute film Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), which won a student academy award. Lee's next film, "The Messenger," in 1984, was somewhat biographical. In 1986, Spike Lee made the film, She's Gotta Have It (1986), a comedy about sexual relationships. The movie was made for 175,000 dollars, and made seven million. Since then, Lee has become a well-known, intelligent, and talented film maker. His next movie was School Daze (1988), which was set in a historically black school and focused mostly on the conflict between the school and the Fraternities, of which he was a strong critic, portraying them as materialistic, irresponsible, and uncaring. Lee went on to do his landmark film, Do the Right Thing (1989), a movie specifically about his own town in Brooklyn, New York. The movie garnered an Oscar nomination, for Danny Aiello, for supporting actor. It also sparked a debate on racial relations. Lee went on to produce the jazz biopic Mo' Better Blues (1990) which showed his talent for directing and acting, and was the first of many Spike Lee films to feature Denzel Washington. His next film, Jungle Fever (1991), was about interracial dating. Lee's handling of the subject proved yet again highly controversial. Lee's next film was the self-titled biography of Malcolm X (1992), which had Denzel Washington portraying the civil rights leader. The movie was a success, and resulted in an Oscar nomination for Washington. His next films were the comparatively light, Crooklyn (1994), and the intense crime drama, Clockers (1995). In 1996, Lee directed two movies: the badly received comedy, Girl 6 (1996), and the politically pointed, Get on the Bus (1996), about a group of men going to the Million Man March. His next film, He Got Game (1998), proved to be another excursion into the collegiate world as he shows the darker side of recruiting college athletes. The movie, in limited release, yet again featured Denzel Washington. In 2000 came Bamboozled which made a mockery out of television and the way African-Americans are perceived by white America and the way African-Americans perceive themselves. The movie, however, was a resounding critical success. Lee also has produced films like New Jersey Drive (1995), Tales from the Hood (1995), and Drop Squad (1994). He also has produced and or directed movies about Huey P. Newton, Jim Brown, and has commented in many documentaries about varied subjects. Lee is an obsessive New York Knicks fan. He and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, have two children.
Malcolm X
as ShortyA tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation....
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Jungle Fever
as CyrusA successful and married black man contemplates having an affair with a white girl from work....
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Crooklyn
as SnuffyFrom Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her...
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Do the Right Thing
as MookieSalvatore "Sal" Fragione is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local,...
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Clockers
as ChuckyStrike is a young city drug pusher under the tutelage of drug lord Rodney Little. When a night...
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Mo' Better Blues
as GiantTalented but self-centered trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed with his music and indecisiveness...
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The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'
as SelfFeaturing inverviews from: Afrika Bambaataa, Ashford & Simpson, Jackson Browne, Kim Burell,...
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Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1
as SelfUnbanned explores the dynamic life of AJ1 from its unlikely origins to its role in disrupting...
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She's Gotta Have It
as Mars BlackmonThe story of Nola Darling's simultaneous sexual relationships with three different men is told...
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When We Were Kings
as SelfIt's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten...
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Hoop Dreams
as SelfEvery school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes...
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Summer of Sam
as John JeffriesDuring the summer of 1977, a killer known as the Son of Sam keeps all of New York City on edge...
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School Daze
as Darrell 'Half-Pint' DunlapFraternity and sorority members clash with other students at a historically black college during...
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Denzel Washington : Un modèle américain
as SelfIn 30 years of a deeply committed career and 50 roles, Denzel Washington, double-Oscar winner,...
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Girl 6
as JimmyA struggling actress in New York City takes a job as a phone sex operator.
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Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
as SelfDirector Spike Lee chronicles Michael Jackson's early rise to fame.
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The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
as SelfAn examination of the evolution of commercials as an artistic medium, featuring interviews with...
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Champs
as SelfA documentary about the sport of boxing, as seen through the eyes of champions Mike Tyson,...
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A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
as SelfThis documentary chronicles renaissance man Gordon Parks’ stellar career from staff photographer...
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4 Little Girls
as Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)On September 15, 1963, a bomb destroyed a black church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four...
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Bad 25
as SelfSpike Lee pays tribute to Michael Jackson's Bad on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the epochal...
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Michael Jordan to the Max
as SelfThis documentary showcases basketball player Michael Jordan's awe-inspiring moves, providing...
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A Man's Story
as SelfDocumentary about British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng.
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Farewell, Babylon!
as SelfArrabal's sixth film based on his novel from 1969 with the same name as the movie.
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Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
as SelfA provocative look into the seven-year history of the series that gave hip hop a voice and broke...
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The Last Party
as SelfA youthful perspective on the 1992 presidential campaign with a witty, cautionary message to...
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Street Fight
as SelfThis documentary follows the 2002 mayoral campaign in Newark, New Jersey, in which a City...
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Axé: Music of a People
as Self (archive footage)Originally from Bahia and considered today one of the most globalised musical movements in the...
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40 x 15: The Forty Years of the Directors' Fortnight
as SelfA hstory of the Cannes Film Festival's Director's Fortnight selection.
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First Works
as SelfIt's a mixed bag in the age of illuminating DVD supplements, but First Works effectively...
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3 A.M.
as FilmmakerThe feature film directing debut of Spike Lee protege Lee Davis takes the viewer into the world...
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Four Days in October
as Self (archive footage)When the night of October 16, 2004 came to a merciful end, the Curse of the Bambino was alive...
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Sidney
as SelfThis revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and...
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By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
as SelfA short documentary about the making of Spike Lee's biopic, "Malcolm X."
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Red Hook Summer
as Mr. MookieWhen his mom deposits him at the Red Hook housing project in Brooklyn to spend the summer with...
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Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later
as SelfIn this documentary directed by Spike Lee, he interviews the cast and crew of his 1989 film DO...
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A Century of Cinema
as SelfA look back at the first 100 years of the movies.
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How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
as uncreditedMelvin Van Peebles was one of the first black directors to challenge the white establishment in...
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Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
as SelfIn this open-letter style documentary, Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis' rich lives guide their grandson...
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Plankton Salesmen
as Self (archive footage)A nostalgic look at the birth and death of arthouse film distribution in the early 2000s in...
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Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
as SelfDocumentary about actor Peter Sellers and one of his most memorable film roles.
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Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter?
as selfWith a work ethic like no other and a filmography boosting over 150 films, it's hard to doubt...
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No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat
as SelfA documentary exploring the historical concept of the narrative of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film...
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On the Shoulders of Giants
as uncreditedThe story of the Harlem Rens: the greatest basketball team you never heard of.
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MTV's 10th Anniversary Special
as SelfA special commemorating the 10th anniversary of MTV. Included are performances created for this...
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Seven Songs for Malcolm X
as uncreditedThe Black Audio Film Collective’s seventh film envisioned the death and life of the African...
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Birth of a Movement
as SelfIn 1915, Boston-based African American newspaper editor and activist William M. Trotter waged a...
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Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist
as SelfAn intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor’s incomparable artistry, and the acting process...
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Through the Fire
as uncredited"Through the Fire" chronicles the journey of Coney Island basketball star, Sebastian Telfair,...
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PoliWood
as SelfAn in-depth look at the Democratic and Republican national conventions held during the 2008 U.S....
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We the People: From Crispus Attucks to President Barack Obama
as uncreditedThe Election of President Barack Obama began on March 5, 1770 at the Boston Massacre with the...
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It's Black Entertainment
as SelfA star-studded tribute (from the creators of That's Entertainment) to the contributions of...
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Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists
as SelfDirectors Jonathan Alter, John Block and Steve McCarthy bring New York columnists Jimmy Breslin...
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Lisa Picard Is Famous
as Spike LeeA documentarian decides to follow the career of New York actress Lisa Picard, believing she is...
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Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks
as SelfReggie Miller single-handedly crushed the hearts of Knick fans multiple times. But it was the...
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Kobe Doin' Work
as SelfA documentary following Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2008 NBA playoffs.
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The Universal Story
as Self (archive footage)Richard Dreyfuss hosts a celebration of the 80 year history of Universal Studios. Founded as IMP...
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Brooklyn Boheme
as SelfBrooklyn Boheme is a love letter to a vibrant African American artistic community who resided in...
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French Cinema Mon Amour
as SelfFrench Cinema Mon Amour is an ensemble film in which each contributor brings their own voice,...
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Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
as Self (archive footage)The 30-year legacy of the murder of black teenager Yusuf Hawkins by a group of young white men...
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Lonely in America
as Spike LeeAn East Indian native immigrates to New York City and stumbles his way onto the corporate...
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Lights, Action, Music
as SelfA wonderful journey through the meaning and relevance of film music composition. Featuring...
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Ray Allen/AKA- Jesus Shuttlesworth
as uncreditedSpike Lee takes us into the world of NBA nicknames, focusing on how Ray Allen's starring role in...
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Branford Marsalis: Steep
as SelfRecorded live on 13th November, 1987, at the Spirit Square Arts Centre, North Carolina, USA.
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Five Directors On The Battle of Algiers
as SelfThis 17-minute documentary is featured on the 3-Disc Criterion Collection DVD of The Battle of...
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Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella
as SelfA 1990 PBS documentary around the topic of A cappella music. Artists that performed as part of...
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Pixote In Memoriam
as SelfA tribute documentary on Fernando Ramos da Silva, the famous child star of the acclaimed film by...
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Guest
as SelfFilmmaker José Luis Guerin documents his experience during a year of traveling as a guest of...
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The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
as SelfSpike Lee's filmmaking career is examined in this partial making-of for the film 25th Hour...
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The Making of 'Bamboozled'
as SelfA behind-the-scenes look at the making of Spike Lee's satirical take on the American...
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Decade
as SelfInterviews with personalities including John Mellencamp, Spike Lee, Lou Reed, Roseanne Barr,...
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Life O' The Party: On the Road with Prince and the New Power Generation
as SelfOn the road documentary with Prince and the New Power Generation during their 2004 Musicology...
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Below the Rim
as uncreditedMen among giants, the NBA's little big men are the unsung heroes of the court. Defying the odds,...
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A Daughter's Tribute to Her Father: Souleymane Cissé
as SelfFatou Cissé accompanies her father, malien director Souleymane Cissé, through a trip down his...
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Seen It All
as Mars BlackmonA celebration of the 50th anniversary of Nike.
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Be A Part of It
as SelfSpike Lee’s tribute to the Bronx in promotion of the Yankees’ 2024 season opener.
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Public Enemy: Fight the Power... Live!
as uncreditedTHE BLACK PANTHERS OF RAPP-CHUCK D, FLAVOR FLAY, TERMINATOR X, PROFESSOR GRIFF, AND THE S1W'S...
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as SelfStephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,...
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The Daily Show
as SelfThe World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as SelfAfter Jay Leno's second retirement from the program, Jimmy Fallon stepped in as his permanent...
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Saturday Night Live
as Mars BlackmonA late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The...
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Saturday Night Live
as Self (uncredited)A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The...
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Real Time with Bill Maher
as SelfEach week Bill Maher surrounds himself with a panel of guests which include politicians, actors,...
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The View
as SelfABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin,...
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Tamron Hall
as Self - GuestFormer news host and journalist Tamron Hall discusses all things topical and engages those she...
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Great Performances
as SelfThe best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse...
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Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
as SelfSome of this year's most talked about talent open up about the challenges and triumphs of...
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Basketball: A Love Story
as Self (archive footage)'Basketball: A Love Story' is a series of 62 interconnected short stories that creates a vibrant...
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In Living Color
as uncreditedIn Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on the Fox...
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Desus & Mero
as Self - Illustrious GuestThe first ever weekly late-night talk show on Showtime features popular TV and podcast...
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The Oscars
as SelfAn annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...
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Who Do You Think You Are?
as SelfFrom roots in the Deep South to the slums of New Jersey, "Who Do You Think You Are?" follows the...
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Ghostwriter
as Special Agent Pete (archive footage)Ghostwriter is an American television program created by Liz Nealon and produced by the...
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Ghostwriter
as Special Agent PeteGhostwriter is an American television program created by Liz Nealon and produced by the...
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Yo! MTV Raps
as SelfPopular rap music videos showcased along with live performances and interviews with notable rap...
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The Chris Rock Show
as uncreditedThe Chris Rock Show is a late night comedy talk show featured on HBO. It was created by Chris...
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She's Gotta Have It
as Drum MajorNola Darling struggles to define herself and divide her time among her friends, job and three...
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This Is Pop
as Self (archive footage)Unknown histories take center stage as the hitmakers themselves - from ABBA to T-Pain - explore...
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Pretend It's a City
as SelfWander the New York City streets and fascinating mind of wry writer, humorist and raconteur Fran...
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The Early Show
as SelfThe Early Show is an American morning television show which was broadcast by CBS from New York...
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Dear...
as SelfAn inventive and cinematic approach to biographies of the most iconic figures in society today...
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They Call Me Magic
as SelfEarvin “Magic” Johnson is an icon for the ages—from humble beginnings to the Dream Team to...
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Inside the Actors Studio
as SelfJames Lipton sits down with some of the world's most accomplished actors and directors for...
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