Spike Lee

Shelton Jackson Lee (born March 20, 1957), better known as Spike Lee, is a film director, producer, writer, and actor noted for his many films dealing with social and political issues. In addition he is a distinguished documentarian and teaches film at New York University.

Trivia

In Paris, France, in 2003, Lee received an honorary Cesar Award for Lifetime Achievement in the film industry.

Related Topics:
Paris - France - 2003 - Cesar Award

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In 2003 Lee sued the Spike TV television network claiming that they were capitalizing on his fame by using his name for their network. The claim was settled out of court.

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Lee also appeared in the documentary Hoop Dreams, giving a lecture to young black kids getting a college sponsorship for their basketball talents.

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His production company is 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, named after the "40 acres and a mule," the colloquial term for compensation that was to be awarded to freed American slaves after the Civil War.

Related Topics:
40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks - 40 acres and a mule

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Lee is also famous for directing a series of Nike commercials featuring Michael Jordan, which helped establish Jordan as a highly successful commercial pitchman. In several of the commercials, Lee also played his alter ego of Mars Blackmon, a character he created for his first major film, She's Gotta Have It.

Related Topics:
Nike - Michael Jordan - Alter ego - She's Gotta Have It

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Lee received death threats, allegedly from the Nation of Islam over his 1992 biopic Malcolm X. The threats prompted Lee to remove scenes in which the NOI is depicted as plotting the murder of Malcolm X.

Related Topics:
Nation of Islam - Biopic - Malcolm X

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He is a well-known and highly visible fan of the NBA's New York Knicks, a team he has supported since childhood. Lee has courtside seats, and had several famous verbal run-ins with Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller. On April 6, 2005 after Miller's last game at the Knicks home court Madison Square Garden, Miller and Lee hugged each other.

Related Topics:
NBA - New York Knicks - Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller - April 6 - 2005 - Madison Square Garden

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Lee's sports interests are not limited to basketball. In 2005, he became a season ticketholder for Inter Milan, one of the strongest football (soccer) clubs in Italy and Europe. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=interspikelee&prov=st&type=lgns He has also publicly stated an affection for Arsenal Football Club in London. http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=291835

Related Topics:
2005 - Inter Milan - Football (soccer) - Italy - Europe - Arsenal

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