About

Known credits:
276
Birthday:
1957-03-20
Place of birth:
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Website:
N/A

Spike Lee

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting
2024 Be A Part of It Actor Self N/A
N/A
2023 Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter? Actor self 59
Average
2022 Denzel Washington : Un modèle américain Actor Self 59
Average
2022 Sidney Actor Self 59
Average
2022 A Daughter's Tribute to Her Father: Souleymane Cissé Actor Self N/A
N/A
2022 Seen It All Actor Mars Blackmon N/A
N/A
2022 They Call Me Magic Actor Self 69
Fair
2021 A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks Actor Self 59
Average
2021 Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist Actor Self 59
Average
2021 Pretend It's a City Actor Self 71
Good
2020 Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2018 Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists Actor Self 59
Average
2018 Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 Actor Self 59
Average
2017 Plankton Salesmen Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2017 Be Truly Free Actor Narrator (voice) N/A
N/A
2017 Birth of a Movement Actor Self 59
Average
2017 Axé: Music of a People Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2016 Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall Actor Self 60
Fair
2015 French Cinema Mon Amour Actor Self 59
Average
2015 Director Spike Lee's New York City Actor Self N/A
N/A
2015 Champs Actor Self 59
Average
2015 Ray Allen/AKA- Jesus Shuttlesworth Actor N/A
N/A
2014 Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee Actor Self 59
Average
2014 We the People: From Crispus Attucks to President Barack Obama Actor N/A
N/A
2012 Bad 25 Actor Self 60
Fair
2012 Red Hook Summer Actor Mr. Mookie 58
Average
2012 Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Brooklyn Boheme Actor Self 59
Average
2011 A Man's Story Actor Self 59
Average
2011 Guest Actor Self 59
Average
2011 On the Shoulders of Giants Actor 59
Average
2010 Four Days in October Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2010 Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks Actor Self 59
Average
2009 PoliWood Actor Self 59
Average
2009 Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later Actor Self 58
Average
2009 Kobe Doin' Work Actor Self 59
Average
2008 40 x 15: The Forty Years of the Directors' Fortnight Actor Self N/A
N/A
2008 Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies Actor 59
Average
2007 Pixote In Memoriam Actor Self 59
Average
2007 Lights, Action, Music Actor Self 59
Average
2005 Life O' The Party: On the Road with Prince and the New Power Generation Actor Self N/A
N/A
2005 Street Fight Actor Self 59
Average
2005 How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) Actor 59
Average
2005 By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' Actor Self 59
Average
2005 Through the Fire Actor 59
Average
2004 No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove' Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Five Directors On The Battle of Algiers Actor Self 59
Average
2003 The Evolution of an American Filmmaker Actor Self 59
Average
2002 New York at the Movies Actor Self N/A
N/A
2002 We Wuz Robbed Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2002 It's Black Entertainment Actor Self 59
Average
2002 The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' Actor Self 59
Average
2001 3 A.M. Actor Filmmaker 58
Average
2001 The Making of 'Bamboozled' Actor Self 59
Average
2000 Lisa Picard Is Famous Actor Spike Lee 59
Average
2000 Michael Jordan to the Max Actor Self 59
Average
1999 Summer of Sam Actor John Jeffries 61
Fair
1997 4 Little Girls Actor Interviewer (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1996 The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money Actor Self 59
Average
1996 When We Were Kings Actor Self 64
Fair
1996 The Universal Story Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1996 Girl 6 Actor Jimmy 57
Average
1995 Clockers Actor Chucky 62
Fair
1995 Below the Rim Actor N/A
N/A
1994 Hoop Dreams Actor Self 65
Fair
1994 Crooklyn Actor Snuffy 60
Fair
1994 A Century of Cinema Actor Self 59
Average
1993 Seven Songs for Malcolm X Actor N/A
N/A
1993 Farewell, Babylon! Actor Self N/A
N/A
1993 The Last Party Actor Self 58
Average
1992 Malcolm X Actor Shorty 71
Good
1992 Ghostwriter Actor Special Agent Pete 69
Fair
1992 Our Hollywood Education Actor Self N/A
N/A
1991 Sous les marches du palais Actor Self N/A
N/A
1991 Jungle Fever Actor Cyrus 60
Fair
1991 MTV's 10th Anniversary Special Actor Self N/A
N/A
1991 Branford Marsalis: Steep Actor Self N/A
N/A
1990 Lonely in America Actor Spike Lee 58
Average
1990 Mo' Better Blues Actor Giant 60
Fair
1990 Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella Actor Self 59
Average
1989 Decade Actor Self 59
Average
1989 Making 'Do the Right Thing' Actor Self 58
Average
1989 First Works Actor Self N/A
N/A
1989 Do the Right Thing Actor Mookie 73
Good
1989 Public Enemy: Fight the Power... Live! Actor N/A
N/A
1988 School Daze Actor Darrell 'Half-Pint' Dunlap 58
Average
1986 She's Gotta Have It Actor Mars Blackmon 61
Fair
Number 4 Actor Self N/A
N/A
Megadoc Actor Self N/A
N/A
Do The Right Thing 25 Year Anniversary A Beats Music Experience Actor Spike Lee N/A
N/A

Directing
2022 Seen It All Directing Director N/A
N/A
2020 David Byrne's American Utopia Directing Director 60
Fair
2020 Da 5 Bloods Directing Director 63
Fair
2020 3 Brothers - Radio Raheem, Eric Garner and George Floyd Directing Director N/A
N/A
2020 New York New York Directing Director 59
Average
2019 Land of the Free Directing Director N/A
N/A
2018 BlacKkKlansman Directing Director 74
Good
2018 Pass Over Directing Director 58
Average
2017 She's Gotta Have It Directing Director 68
Fair
2017 Rodney King Directing Director 58
Average
2017 Be Truly Free Directing Director N/A
N/A
2016 2 Fists Up Directing Director N/A
N/A
2016 Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall Directing Director 60
Fair
2015 Chi-Raq Directing Director 58
Average
2015 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Directing Director 58
Average
2015 Ray Allen/AKA- Jesus Shuttlesworth Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 Throw Like A Girl Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store Directing Director 58
Average
2014 Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife Directing Director 58
Average
2014 Amex Unstaged Pharrell Williams Live at the Apollo Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 I Can't Breathe Directing Director N/A
N/A
2013 Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Directing Director 60
Fair
2013 Oldboy Directing Director 58
Average
2012 Bad 25 Directing Director 60
Fair
2012 Red Hook Summer Directing Director 58
Average
2010 If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise Directing Director 69
Fair
2009 Passing Strange Directing Director 58
Average
2009 Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later Directing Director 58
Average
2009 Kobe Doin' Work Directing Director 59
Average
2008 Miracle at St. Anna Directing Director 59
Average
2006 When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts Directing Director 72
Good
2006 Inside Man Directing Director 72
Good
2005 Jesus Children of America Directing Director N/A
N/A
2005 All the Invisible Children Directing Director 60
Fair
2004 Sucker Free City Directing Director 59
Average
2004 She Hate Me Directing Director 57
Average
2002 25th Hour Directing Director 70
Good
2002 We Wuz Robbed Directing Director N/A
N/A
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Directing Director 59
Average
2002 Jim Brown: All-American Directing Director 58
Average
2001 The Concert for New York City Directing Director 58
Average
2001 Come Rain or Come Shine Directing Director N/A
N/A
2001 A Huey P. Newton Story Directing Director 58
Average
2001 The Making of 'Bamboozled' Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Bamboozled Directing Director 59
Average
2000 The Original Kings of Comedy Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Bernie Mac: Live from Charlotte Directing Director N/A
N/A
2000 One Morning All Over the World Directing Director 59
Average
1999 Summer of Sam Directing Director 61
Fair
1999 Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo Directing Director 59
Average
1998 John Leguizamo: Freak Directing Director 58
Average
1998 Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia Directing Director N/A
N/A
1998 He Got Game Directing Director 63
Fair
1997 4 Little Girls Directing Director 59
Average
1997 HIStory on Film, Volume II Directing Director 63
Fair
1996 Get on the Bus Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Girl 6 Directing Director 57
Average
1995 Lumière & Company Directing Director 59
Average
1995 Clockers Directing Director 62
Fair
1994 Crooklyn Directing Director 60
Fair
1992 Malcolm X Directing Director 71
Good
1992 Prince and the N.P.G.: Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection Directing Director 58
Average
1991 Jungle Fever Directing Director 60
Fair
1990 Spike Lee Presents Mike Tyson Directing Director N/A
N/A
1990 Mo' Better Blues Directing Director 60
Fair
1989 Do the Right Thing Directing Director 73
Good
1988 School Daze Directing Director 58
Average
1986 Horn of Plenty Directing Director 59
Average
1986 She's Gotta Have It Directing Director 61
Fair
1983 Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads Directing Director 59
Average
1981 Sarah Directing Director 58
Average
1980 The Answer Directing Director 58
Average
Da Understudy Directing Director N/A
N/A
Boner Directing Director N/A
N/A
Prince of Cats Directing Director N/A
N/A
Highest 2 Lowest Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2020 Da 5 Bloods Writing Writer 63
Fair
2018 BlacKkKlansman Writing Writer 74
Good
2015 Chi-Raq Writing Writer 58
Average
2015 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2014 I Can't Breathe Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2012 Red Hook Summer Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2004 She Hate Me Writing Screenplay 57
Average
2000 Bamboozled Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1999 Summer of Sam Writing Writer 61
Fair
1998 He Got Game Writing Screenplay 63
Fair
1997 4 Little Girls Writing Writer 59
Average
1995 Clockers Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1994 Crooklyn Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1992 Malcolm X Writing Screenplay 71
Good
1991 Jungle Fever Writing Writer 60
Fair
1990 Mo' Better Blues Writing Writer 60
Fair
1989 Do the Right Thing Writing Screenplay 73
Good
1988 School Daze Writing Writer 58
Average
1986 Horn of Plenty Writing Writer 59
Average
1986 She's Gotta Have It Writing Writer 61
Fair
1983 Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads Writing Writer 59
Average
Highest 2 Lowest Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
Boner Writing Writer N/A
N/A
Prince of Cats Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Production
2025 Nervous Energy Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2024 PUNTER Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2024 F*ck That Guy Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2023 In Freedom Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2022 You Resemble Me Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2022 The Captain Production Executive Producer 70
Good
2021 NYC Epicenters 9/11➔2021½ Production Producer 69
Fair
2021 Son of the South Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2020 Tales from the Hood 3 Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2020 David Byrne's American Utopia Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2020 Da 5 Bloods Production Producer 63
Fair
2019 See You Yesterday Production Producer 57
Average
2018 Amazing Grace Production Producer 61
Fair
2018 Cherish Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2018 BlacKkKlansman Production Producer 74
Good
2018 Tales from the Hood 2 Production Executive Producer 57
Average
2018 Time 2 Surrender Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2018 Nigerian Prince Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2018 The Black 14 Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
2018 Pass Over Production Producer 58
Average
2017 Rodney King Production Producer 58
Average
2016 2 Fists Up Production Producer N/A
N/A
2016 Touched with Fire Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2015 Chi-Raq Production Producer 58
Average
2015 The Girl Is in Trouble Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2015 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Production Producer 58
Average
2015 Cronies Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2014 Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife Production Producer 58
Average
2014 Dirty Hands Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2014 Evolution of a Criminal Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2013 Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2012 Red Hook Summer Production Producer 58
Average
2012 You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2011 Pariah Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
2011 Doubles with Slight Pepper Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2010 If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise Production Producer 69
Fair
2010 Saint John of Las Vegas Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2009 Kobe Doin' Work Production Producer 59
Average
2008 Miracle at St. Anna Production Producer 59
Average
2006 When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts Production Producer 72
Good
2005 All the Invisible Children Production Producer 60
Fair
2004 She Hate Me Production Producer 57
Average
2003 Good Fences Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2002 25th Hour Production Producer 70
Good
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Production Producer 59
Average
2002 Jim Brown: All-American Production Producer 58
Average
2001 Home Invaders Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2001 3 A.M. Production Co-Executive Producer 58
Average
2001 3 A.M. Production Producer 58
Average
2000 Bamboozled Production Producer 59
Average
2000 The Original Kings of Comedy Production Producer 59
Average
2000 Love & Basketball Production Producer 65
Fair
1999 The Best Man Production Producer 60
Fair
1999 Summer of Sam Production Producer 61
Fair
1998 He Got Game Production Producer 63
Fair
1997 4 Little Girls Production Producer 59
Average
1996 Get on the Bus Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1996 Girl 6 Production Producer 57
Average
1995 Clockers Production Producer 62
Fair
1995 Tales from the Hood Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1995 New Jersey Drive Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1994 Drop Squad Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1994 Crooklyn Production Producer 60
Fair
1992 Malcolm X Production Producer 71
Good
1991 Jungle Fever Production Producer 60
Fair
1990 Mo' Better Blues Production Producer 60
Fair
1989 Do the Right Thing Production Producer 73
Good
1988 School Daze Production Producer 58
Average
1986 She's Gotta Have It Production Producer 61
Fair
1983 Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads Production Producer 59
Average
Liberty Production Producer N/A
N/A
Boner Production Producer N/A
N/A
Da Understudy Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
Highest 2 Lowest Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
Gordon Hemingway & the Realm of Cthulhu Production Producer N/A
N/A

Camera
2008 Genesis | Come Rain or Shine Camera Camera Operator 59
Average
2001 Come Rain or Come Shine Camera Director of Photography N/A
N/A

Crew
2017 She's Gotta Have It Crew Creator 68
Fair
2015 Stop Crew Thanks 59
Average
2012 One Night Crew Presenter 58
Average
2005 C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America Crew Presenter 58
Average
1991 Suspect Crew Thanks N/A
N/A

Editing
1986 She's Gotta Have It Editing Editor 61
Fair
1983 Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads Editing Editor 59
Average