Brandon Lee Cause Of Death, What Was Brandon Lee’s Cause Of Death?
by A Maria | Updated Mar 15, 2023
Who was Brandon lee?
Brandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist who gained recognition in the early 1990s as an up-and-coming action star. He secured his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in the 1994 dark fantasy film The Crow. Unfortunately, Lee's promising career and life were cut short due to his accidental death during the production of The Crow. As the son of Bruce Lee, a martial artist and film star who passed away when Brandon was only eight years old, he followed in his father's footsteps and trained in martial arts. Additionally, Lee studied acting at Emerson College and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. He began his acting career with leading roles in the Hong Kong action film Legacy of Rage in 1986, and Laser Mission, which went straight-to-video in 1989. Lee also appeared in two spin-offs of the 1970s television series Kung Fu: the television film Kung Fu: The Movie in 1986 and the pilot Kung Fu: The Next Generation in 1987.
What was Brandon Lee’s Cause Of Death?
Alec Baldwin, an actor, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer for Rust, in 2021. This incident is reminiscent of another tragic shooting that occurred on set almost three decades prior, which resulted in the accidental death of actor Brandon Lee during the filming of The Crow.
Lee, who was the son of Bruce Lee, a well-known martial artist, died after being shot with a prop gun by his co-star Michael Massee on March 30, 1993, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The gun was loaded with blanks, but the gunpowder in the cartridge ignited, causing a fragment of the bullet to strike Lee, who later died during surgery. Massee did not face any criminal charges, but Lee's mother was able to successfully sue the filmmakers for an undisclosed amount.
Decades later, a similar situation occurred during the filming of Rust, where Baldwin accidentally fired a live round from a Colt .45-caliber pistol at Hutchins. Baldwin maintains that he did not intend to fire at Hutchins and has sued those responsible for handling and supplying the prop gun. Additionally, he reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins.
What Did Brandon Lee Die From?
Whilst filming a scene for the movie "The Crow" in Wilmington, North Carolina, Brandon Lee, who was 28 at the time, tragically died. Lee was playing the character of Eric Driven in the scene where his character is shot by gang members after witnessing the murder of his fiancée. Michael Massee, who played the role of Funboy, used a prop gun, a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 629 revolver, and fired at Lee from a distance of 12-15ft. The prop gun had been previously used in a scene and was fitted with dummy cartridges, which are more realistic on film. The commercial dummy cartridges used in the movie usually have bullets, but the powder and primer are removed. However, the prop crew made their own dummy cartridges by removing the gunpowder but unknowingly left the primer inside. The improperly deactivated cartridge was discharged during filming, which caused a squib load, a bullet that becomes stuck in the barrel. Tragically, the prop crew failed to notice the issue. During the fatal scene, the dummy cartridges were swapped for blank rounds, which feature a live powder charge and primer but no bullet. When Massee fired the gun, the bullet that had been trapped in the barrel was fired with almost the same force as a live round, hitting Brandon Lee in the stomach. He fell forward instead of backward, which was in the script. Despite undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital, Lee passed away on March 31, 1993. Massee was not charged with any criminal offense, and Lee's mother successfully sued the filmmakers for an undisclosed amount.
Professional Career of Brandon Lee
After returning to Los Angeles in 1985, Lee secured a job as a script reader. It was during this time that casting director Lynn Stalmaster approached him and offered him an opportunity to audition for a role in Kung Fu: The Movie. Despite his disinterest in martial arts, Lee was ultimately convinced to take on the role by Jeff Imada, his former instructor who was working in the stunt department. In the film, Lee played the illegitimate son of Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine), who was the lead character in the original Kung Fu television series. The movie first aired on ABC on February 1, 1986, and Lee felt that there was some poetic justice in being cast for the role, given that the show's pilot had originally been written for his father.
Biography of Brandon Lee
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Born
Brandon Bruce Lee
February 1, 1965
Oakland, California, U.S.
Died
March 31, 1993 (aged 28)
Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Burial place
Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)
Actor, martial artist, fight choreographer
Years active
1985–1993
Partner(s)
Eliza Hutton
(1990–1993; his death)
Parents
Bruce Lee (father)
Linda Lee Cadwell (mother)
Relatives
Lee Hoi-chuen (grandfather)
Peter Lee Jung-sum (uncle)
Robert Lee Jun-fai (uncle)
Shannon Lee (sister)
Brandon Lee Cause Of Death - FAQs
Brandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in the 1994 dark fantasy film The Crow.
Brandon Lee was the son of martial artist and film star Bruce Lee. He followed in his father's footsteps and trained in martial arts, as well as studying acting at Emerson College and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Aside from his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in The Crow, Brandon Lee also had leading roles in the Hong Kong action film Legacy of Rage and the straight-to-video movie Laser Mission. He also appeared in two spin-offs of the 1970s television series Kung Fu.
Brandon Lee's promising career and life were tragically cut short when he was accidentally shot and killed during the production of The Crow in 1993.
Brandon Lee was only 28 years old at the time of his accidental death.