Bruce Lee’s Death: Details of His Sudden Passing 5 decades ago

In July 1973, Bruce Lee was working on several new projects, most notably the movie Game of Death.

He’d been married to Linda Emery Lee for nine years, and they had two children together: 8-year-old Brandon and 4-year-old Shannon.

But on July 20, 1973, Lee went to take a nap after complaining of a headache and never woke up

 An ambulance was called after he was found unconscious, but Lee was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Lee’s sudden death at 32 years old was due to cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain

His funeral was held in Hong Kong, where he died, though he’s buried in Seattle alongside his son, who died two decades later.

How did Bruce Lee die?

After complaining of a headache on July 20, 1973, Lee took the painkiller Equagesic and went to take a nap, according to the 2018 biography Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew A. Polly.

He was later found unconscious and brought to the hospital via an ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Wu inferred Lee’s death was caused by cerebral edema or swelling of the brain.

However, there have been multiple theories as to what caused Lee’s cerebral edema over the years.

At the time of Lee’s death, a coroner later concluded that the cerebral edema was due to a reaction from the painkiller Equagesic, even though Lee had reportedly taken the pill before.

Others had suggested that the cannabis found in Lee’s system could have contributed to his death, but forensic scientist Donald Teare, who was assigned to Lee’s case, denied this.

Lee, who had been experiencing headaches and seizures, collapsed while working on his film Enter the Dragon two months before he died in 1973.

He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed cerebral edema, and was discharged several days later.

When did Bruce Lee die?

Lee died on July 20, 1973.

According to Polly, the news of Lee’s death broke around 11:30 p.m., when Hong Kong’s police commissioner Charles Sutcliffe was notified

Where did Bruce Lee die?

Lee died at the home of Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

On the day of his death, Lee and producer Richard Chow drove to Pei’s home, where he took an Equagesic and laid down for a nap.

How old was Bruce Lee when he died?

Lee was 32 years old when he died.

How did the public react to Bruce Lee’s death?

The martial artist’s death sparked a major public reaction around the world.

His funeral was held in Hong Kong, and he was later buried in Seattle.

What legacy did Bruce Lee leave behind?

Lee is still considered a cultural icon, and the most influential martial artist of all time.

In 1999, TIME named him one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

He founded the martial arts discipline of Jeet Kune Do, which incorporates numerous different forms of martial arts.

Jeet Kune Do is also considered a predecessor to mixed martial arts, which is featured in the UFC.

Lee’s son Brandon followed in his footsteps as a martial artist and actor, but he died at the age of 28 on the set of the movie The Crow after being wounded by a prop gun.

His daughter Shannon also became a martial artist and an actress and is president of the Bruce Lee Foundation.

Shannon has also been protective of her father’s image and legacy. In 2021, she criticized Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino for the movie’s portrayal of her father “as a dispensable stereotype.”

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