What's After the Movie
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson 'Spike' Lee, born March 20, 1957, is an acclaimed American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and author. Lee's work intimately explores race relations, issues within the black community, the role of media in modern life, urban crime, and poverty, as well as other political issues. His notable career has been decorated with numerous awards, including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and two Peabody Awards. In 2002, 2003, and 2015, he was honored with an Honorary BAFTA Award, an Honorary César, and the Academy Honorary Award respectively. Lee's production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut with 'She's Gotta Have It' in 1986, and went on to write and direct numerous critically acclaimed films, including 'Do the Right Thing', 'Malcolm X', '25th Hour', 'Inside Man', 'Chi-Raq', 'BlacKkKlansman', and 'Da 5 Bloods' among others. His films catalyzed breakthrough performances from a roster of notable actors including Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel L. Jackson, and Rosie Perez. The Library of Congress selected several of Lee's films for preservation in the National Film Registry for being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant'.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lee's childhood was influenced by his mother, a teacher of arts and black literature, and his musician father. His family relocated from Atlanta to Brooklyn, and Lee went on to attend Morehouse College, where he made his first student film. He later completed his graduate work in film and television at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In his early career, he won a Student Academy Award for his film 'Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads'. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Lee continued to make waves in the industry with his thought-provoking and groundbreaking films. Evolving in his career, Lee also directed a series of impactful documentary projects such as '4 Little Girls' and the concert film 'American Utopia'. In the years 2002 and 2006, he directed acclaimed feature films '25th Hour' and 'Inside Man' respectively. Currently a tenured professor at NYU, Lee also manages an office in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Married to Tonya Lewis in 1993, the couple have two children.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Spike Lee, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Spike Lee rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Shelton Jackson Lee
Born: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: March 20, 1957
Occupations: Director,Producer,Writer,Actor,Author
Years Active: 1977-present
Children: 2
Spouses: Tonya Lewis
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Spike Lee
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Spike Lee has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Spike Lee
David Byrne's American Utopia
Passing Strange
Da 5 Bloods
Inside Man
BlacKkKlansman
4 Little Girls
Clockers
Crooklyn
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
The Original Kings of Comedy
If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
25th Hour
She Hate Me
Chi-Raq
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
Red Hook Summer
Bamboozled
He Got Game
Malcolm X
Pass Over
School Daze
She's Gotta Have It
Mo' Better Blues
Do the Right Thing
Summer of Sam
Jungle Fever
Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
Oldboy
Girl 6
Bad 25
Get on the Bus
Miracle at St. Anna
Jim Brown: All American
A Huey P. Newton Story
Rodney King
David Byrne’s American Utopia
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks
Four Days in October
Guest
On the Shoulders of Giants
Brooklyn Boheme
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee
Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife
Director Spike Lee’s New York City
Throw Like A Girl
Axé: Music of a People
Birth of a Movement
Ray Allen/AKA- Jesus Shuttlesworth
French Cinema Mon Amour
The Birdwatcherwatcher
Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists
Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1
Bernie Mac: Live from Charlotte
3 A.M.
The Concert for New York City
Be Truly Free
The Making of ‘Bamboozled’
It’s Black Entertainment
No Fighting in the War Room Or: ‘Dr Strangelove’ and the Nuclear Threat
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and ‘Dr. Strangelove’
Five Directors On The Battle of Algiers
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of ‘Malcolm X’
Miracle’s Boys
Pixote In Memoriam
Spike & Co. Do It a-Cappella
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
Sucker Free City
Jesus Children of America
Lonely in America
MTV’s 10th Anniversary Special
Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads
Making ‘Do the Right Thing’
3 Brothers - Radio Raheem, Eric Garner and George Floyd
Horn of Plenty
Pretend It’s a City
Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist
They Call Me Magic
Seen It All
Denzel Washington: A Model American
The Answer
A Century of Cinema
The Last Party
Below the Rim
Seven Songs for Malcolm X
Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later
PoliWood
Drop Squad
John Leguizamo: Freak
Kobe Doin’ Work
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
The Universal Story
A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father: Souleymane Cissé
Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter?
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
Highest 2 Lowest
Highest 2 Lowest
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Spike Lee, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2022
Seen It All
Mars Blackmon
Denzel Washington: A Model American
Self
A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father: Souleymane Cissé
Self
2020
David Byrne's American Utopia
Da 5 Bloods
David Byrne’s American Utopia
3 Brothers - Radio Raheem, Eric Garner and George Floyd
2018
BlacKkKlansman
Pass Over
Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists
Self
Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1
Self
2017
Rodney King
Axé: Music of a People
Self (archive footage)
Birth of a Movement
Self
Be Truly Free
Narrator (voice)
2015
Chi-Raq
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
Director Spike Lee’s New York City
Self
Ray Allen/AKA- Jesus Shuttlesworth
French Cinema Mon Amour
Self
2014
Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store
Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee
Self
Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife
Throw Like A Girl
2010
If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks
Self
Four Days in October
Self (archive footage)
Guest
Self
2004
She Hate Me
No Fighting in the War Room Or: ‘Dr Strangelove’ and the Nuclear Threat
Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and ‘Dr. Strangelove’
Self
Five Directors On The Battle of Algiers
Self
Sucker Free City
2001
A Huey P. Newton Story
3 A.M.
Filmmaker
The Concert for New York City
The Making of ‘Bamboozled’
Self
1996
Girl 6
Get on the Bus
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Self
The Universal Story
Self (archive footage)
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