Brandon Bruce Lee was born on Feb. 1, 1965. He was the son of film icon and martial arts legend, Bruce Lee, and Linda Lee Cadwell. Born in Oakland and raised in California, 9-year-old Brandon began studying martial arts with one of his father’s students. While visiting his father on set, Brandon became interested in acting, a career he would eventually pursue as a young man. He took acting lessons at the Leee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City and attended Emerson College in Boston. In 1985, Brandon returned to California and began his career in movies and television. He appeared in ‘Kung Fu: The Movie,’ a television film (which was based on ‘Kung Fu,’ a 1970s television series originally conceived for Bruce Lee.)
Brandon appeared in a few series and films, including ‘Showdown in Little Tokyo’ and ‘Rapid Fire.’ Brandon landed the part of Eric Draven, the main character of ‘The Crow.’ This role would prove to be fatal. During a session towards the end of filming, Brandon was shot by a prop gun. Despite the efforts of doctors, Brandon passed away on March 31, 1993. The death was ruled due to negligence. An improper “dummy bullet” had lodged itself in the barrel of a gun in an early scene, and when the gun fired its blank, the explosion propelled the “dummy” tip as if it were a live round. Brandon was just 28 when he died.
