Before International Fame, Bruce Lee Was Seen as a “Washed up” C-List TV Star Looking for a Quick Way to Pay His Mortgage

Bruce Lee, an iconic legend who forever engraved his name in history redefined cinema and martial arts with his super-fast techniques that still inspire generations. He is the very example of how hard work can boost one’s growth as he was not privileged enough to get instant success.

Also Read: “We’ll do the opposite”: Kung Fu Legend Bruce Lee Almost Destroyed Jackie Chan With His Stardom

However, many might be shocked to know that before he became a globally recognized pop culture icon, he was seen as a washed-up C-list actor.

Bruce Lee’s Image Before He Became a Global Fame

Also Read: Despite Bizarre Eggshells, Peanut Flour & Chocolate Ice Cream Diet, 141 lbs Bruce Lee Was Never Obese

There is almost no one who doesn’t know who Bruce Lee is. However, this mega-stardom took years in the making which absolutely was difficult to even build. In the 2021 book, These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World, authors Grady Hendrix and Chris Poggiali reflected on some of the iconic performers whose movies influenced the globe and US audience.

Writing about Lee, they mentioned that the actor was super famous but it was not the full picture of his life since he once faced quite a struggling time getting himself established in the industry.

Having started his career in Hong Kong dramas at a young age, it didn’t last long as his family relocated to the US back in 1959. Due to his impressive martial arts background, he got an opportunity to a screen test for Batman producer, William Dozier.

He was the one who cast him in The Green Hornet but it only lasted one season. After that, he returned to Hong Kong to work in a low-budget action film since no opportunity knocked at his door in the US.

“When Bruce Lee went back to Hong Kong to appear in some low-budget kung fu movies, he was a washed-up former child actor and C-list television star with a crippling back injury who just needed quick cash to pay his mortgage.”

The 1971 film, The Big Boss was a huge success in Hong Kong history with its sequel, Fist of Fury surpassing the first one. Hendrix wrote that these two films making history in Hong Kong were a testament to his sheer force of will. At The Green Hornet era, the actor was quite different in appearance from the one we all know.

Bruce Lee’s Appearance in The Green Hornet

In his biography titled, Bruce Lee; A Life by Mathew Polly, his The Green Hornet co-star, Van Williams reflected on the time when the duo worked together. He shared that Lee used to be “…a little pudgy and had a little baby fat on him when I first met him.” 

However, he quickly lost the baby fat with his sheer determination and intense training routine that helped him get a toned physique. Williams reunited with the star in the 1972 film, Way of the Dragon where he described that he “looked like it was sculpted out of marble.” He kept on working on his intense diet to keep his shredded body as amazing as we all know him. This is one of the reasons why he became a pop culture icon of the 20th century,

Source: These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World