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Ang Lee

Directing Born Oct 23, 1954 Chaojhou, Pingtung, Taiwan 83 credits

Biography

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese filmmaker and director born on October 23, 1954, in Pingtung, Taiwan, with a birth place also noted as Chaojhou, Pingtung, Taiwan. Known for directing, his films are recognized for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed and hidden emotions. Throughout his career, he has achieved international critical and popular acclaim alongside numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. Lee initially gained fame in Taiwan for the Father Knows Best trilogy, which consists of Pushing Hands released in 1991, The Wedding Banquet released in 1993, and Eat Drink Man Woman released in 1994. These films explored relationships and conflicts between tradition and modernity, as well as between Eastern and Western cultures.

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Career

Career overview

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese filmmaker born in Pingtung County on October 23, 1954. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed and hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim as well as numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Early in his career, Lee gained fame in Taiwan for the Father Knows Best trilogy. This trilogy includes Pushing Hands released in 1991, The Wedding Banquet released in 1993, and Eat Drink Man Woman released in 1994. These films explored the relationships and conflicts between tradition and modernity, as well as between Eastern and Western cultures.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

The Wedding Banquet · Original Film Writer76 Days Adrift · Executive ProducerLisa Lu Plays Herself
Sense and Sensibility: 25th Anniversary Reunion
Gemini Man · DirectorMaking Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
I Am Heath Ledger
鲁豫有约一日行Thirteen TalksBilly Lynn's Long Halftime Walk · DirectorBilly Lynn's Long Halftime Walk · ProducerThe Moment: Fifty Years of Golden Horse
Grade One
Trespassing BergmanLife of Pi: A Filmmaker's Epic JourneyPast Present
Life of Pi · DirectorLife of Pi · ProducerSilence
Taking Woodstock · ProducerTaking Woodstock · DirectorHeath Ledger: A TributeAdapting AustenA Very Quiet Man
Lust, Caution · ProducerLust, Caution · DirectorHollywood ChineseLights, Action, Music
Be My GuestFabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
The Colbert ReportBrokeback Mountain · Director
A Forbidden Passion
HulkHulk · DirectorThe Making of 'Hulk'Sex at 24 Frames Per SecondThe Incredible Ang Lee
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the MoviesA Feast for the Eyes: Ang Lee in Taipei
The Hire · DirectorChosen · DirectorTortilla Soup · Original Film Writer
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon · ProducerCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon · DirectorThe Making of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'
Ride with the Devil · Director
Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
The Ice Storm · DirectorThe Ice Storm · Producer
E! True Hollywood Story
Sense and Sensibility · DirectorSiao Yu · WriterSiao Yu · Producer
Eat Drink Man Woman · ScreenplayEat Drink Man Woman · Director
The Wedding BanquetThe Wedding Banquet · DirectorThe Wedding Banquet · ProducerThe Wedding Banquet · Writer
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Pushing Hands · DirectorPushing Hands · WriterPushing Hands · EditorPushing Hands · Executive Producer
Of East and West
Fine Line · DirectorFine Line · WriterFine Line · Editor
Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads · Assistant Camera
I Wish I Was by That Dim Lake · Director

Full filmography

  • The Wedding Banquet (2025) Original Film Writer
  • 76 Days Adrift (2025) Executive Producer
  • Lisa Lu Plays Herself (2025) as Self
  • Sense and Sensibility: 25th Anniversary Reunion (2021) as Self
  • Gemini Man (2019) Director
  • Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019) as Self
  • I Am Heath Ledger (2017) as Self
  • 鲁豫有约一日行 (2016)
  • Thirteen Talks (2016)
  • Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016) Director
  • Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016) Producer
  • The Moment: Fifty Years of Golden Horse (2016) as Self
  • A Touch of Art — Ang Lee on King Hu (2016) as Himself
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A Retrospective (2016)
  • Grade One (2014)
  • Trespassing Bergman (2013) as Self
  • Life of Pi: A Filmmaker's Epic Journey (2013) as Self
  • Past Present (2013) as Self
  • Life of Pi (2012) Director
  • Life of Pi (2012) Producer
  • Silence (2012) as Self
  • Taking Woodstock (2009) Producer
  • Taking Woodstock (2009) Director
  • Heath Ledger: A Tribute (2009) as Self
  • Adapting Austen (2009) as Self
  • A Very Quiet Man (2009) as Self
  • A Sense of Character (2009) as Self
  • Lust, Caution (2007) Producer
  • Lust, Caution (2007) Director
  • Hollywood Chinese (2007) as Self
  • Lights, Action, Music (2007) as Self
  • Be My Guest (2006)
  • Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006) as Self
  • The Colbert Report (2005)
  • Brokeback Mountain (2005) Director
  • A Forbidden Passion (2004) as Himself
  • Hulk (2003) as Hulk (voice) (uncredited)
  • Hulk (2003) Director
  • The Making of 'Hulk' (2003) as Self
  • Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003) as Self
  • The Incredible Ang Lee (2003) as Self
  • Evolution of the Hulk (2003) as Self
  • The Unique Style of Editing 'Hulk' (2003) as Self
  • The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies (2002) as Self
  • A Feast for the Eyes: Ang Lee in Taipei (2002) as Self
  • The Hire (2001) Director
  • Chosen (2001) Director
  • Tortilla Soup (2001) Original Film Writer
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Producer
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Director
  • The Making of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000) as Self
  • Ride with the Devil (1999) Director
  • Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema (1998) as Self
  • The Ice Storm (1997) Director
  • The Ice Storm (1997) Producer
  • E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self
  • Sense and Sensibility (1995) Director
  • Siao Yu (1995) Writer
  • Siao Yu (1995) Producer
  • Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) Screenplay
  • Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) Director
  • The Wedding Banquet (1993) as Guest at the Wedding Banquet (uncredited)
  • The Wedding Banquet (1993) Director
  • The Wedding Banquet (1993) Producer
  • The Wedding Banquet (1993) Writer
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
  • Pushing Hands (1991) Director
  • Pushing Hands (1991) Writer
  • Pushing Hands (1991) Editor
  • Pushing Hands (1991) Executive Producer
  • Of East and West (1989)
  • Fine Line (1984) Director
  • Fine Line (1984) Writer
  • Fine Line (1984) Editor
  • Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) Assistant Camera
  • I Wish I Was by That Dim Lake (1982) Director
  • Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Gold Mountain Director
  • Gold Mountain Producer
  • Jackie Chan: Down to Earth as Self
  • Untitled Bruce Lee Biopic Producer
  • Untitled Bruce Lee Biopic Director