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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WHAT HAPPENED TO JASON SCOTT LEE?
e's played an Inuit Eskimo (Map of the Human Heart), a Polynesian prince (Rapa Nui) and practically every Asiatic ethnicity in between, including the ultimate icon of his own (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story). Five have been bona fide romantic leads -- a major achievement for an Asian American actor. What has made Jason Scott Lee's roles so memorable for many is their animal physicality.
Sweat glistening over rippling muscles, Lee has battled, raged and made hot love -- not exactly the images Hollywood often links with Asian men. Like a true hero, he has saved studios big bucks in wardrobe costs and spared millions of females the rigors of imagining the physique attached to those smoldering eyes and full lips.
So what happened to him?
After Jungle Book (1994) and the cinematically beautiful, financially ugly Rapa Nui (1994), Lee sleepwalked through several forgettable movies. The last most of us saw him, he was Aladdin in the 1999 Hallmark miniseries Arabian Nights -- unless you were in London the following year and caught the stage production of The King and I.
Few Hollywood careers have risen to such a sustained crescendo, then faded so quickly.
Lee was born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1966 to a Chinese-Hawaiian father and a Chinese mother. He was two when his family moved to Hawaii. An undistinguished record at Pearl City High left him few options. A year after graduation Lee enrolled at Fullerton Community College. Before long he turned to acting and landed a bit part in Cheech Marin's Born in East LA. A credible portrayal of a tortured young Inuit led to an audition for The Last of the Mohicans. Too Asian to play an Indian, decided the director. So he suggested Lee for the lead in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993). The young actor's success in capturing the icon's moves and moods brought international celebrity, making him a latter-day reincarnation of Bruce Lee to the under-40 set.
It was a key that opened many doors, but they all seemed to lead to the great outdoors. Having been typecast as Primal Man, Lee couldn't seem to get near a role calling for street clothes. Meanwhile, he now spends a lot of time indulging his passion for growing tropical plants. He's even considering a career as an herbalist.
Hollywood careers built in loincloths having seen their heyday when Johnny Weissmuller played Tarzan, could Lee's physical beauty and animal magnetism have sent him down a dead end? That's one theory. What's yours?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:00:51 PM)
There is something both fascinating and poignant about Jason Scott Lee and the peculiar arc of his career. Like most people, I became aware of him in the film DRAGON, in 1993; one could not help being struck by his fantastic physical beauty, athletic prowess, and talent as an actor. In his performance, Jason went beyond capturing the spirit of Bruce Lee: he transcended him. Am I the only person who felt that the film became not The Bruce Lee Story but The Jason Scott Lee Story, and that, in a sense, Bruce Lee's memory could not have been more highly honored? Bruce Lee himself would have been stunned by Jason's talent.
In subsequent films - even undistinguished ones - Jason has never failed to acquit himself with anything less than aplomb, and he is frequently dazzling to watch. Sometimes I find his mere presence deeply moving: he communicates a deep sense of longing that is often tinged mystery, and even pain. This lends him an air of very alluring sexual ambiguity that, were he not an Asian actor, might, by today's standards, be acceptable in Hollywood. My guess is that this is a critical feature in Jason's disappearance from the screen. Hollywood may be prepared for an Asian leading man, but not one who is sexually ambiguous. Not yet, at any rate. One day, hopefully, executives will come to see that this is exactly what makes him such an enthralling star: that he is clearly attractive equally to both men and women. If film studios could overcome their fears and prejudices, we, the movie-going public, could again enjoy the work of this extraordinarily talented young man, who, in any event, is bound to bring joy whatever he may do. I wish Jason Scott Lee very, very well.
An Admirer of JSL
Wednesday, January 09, 2002 at 22:18:33 (PST)
I think Hollywood is just plain ignorant. For myself, I am sick and tired of seeing the same people in movies year after year. Jason has so much to offer and has much more talent that most of those we see on the silver screen. Hollywood is clearly biased, racist, and oblivious to true talent. Let's just hope Jason does not give up. He has too many fans that support him and love him 1000%. Too bad Hollywood doesn't listen to what we the public have to say. I can recognize true talent regardless of the package. Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan as well as others just don't get the attention they deserve because they are different. Not to mention highly talented. ONe day, I pray it will change and there will be a tremendous variety of people out on the silver screen.
Danielle
danimo@bellsouth.net
Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 11:51:12 (PST)
As a fan, I wish there were more opportunities to see him too. Yet, Jason Scott Lee is also a person with his own personal goals and life to pursue. I am sure that there is more to him than I will ever know and I just wish him good fortune and happiness.
Tiger Lily
Friday, December 21, 2001 at 12:27:39 (PST)
it's plenty obvious hollywood's trying to beat this poor chap down,just because he's a chink like me and bruce lee.i think jason would be able to find fame and fortune over in Hong Kong..well,hope he reads this
kok wai
nil
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 at 05:21:19 (PST)
I'm waiting for him to make another movie just like I wait for my favorite author to write the next book. When is it coming?
In Minnesota
Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 13:33:57 (PST)
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