Ang Lee
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.
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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Career timeline
Full Filmography
83 titles- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ang Lee best known for?
Ang Lee is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Gemini Man (2019), A New Love in Tokyo (1994), Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016), Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016).
When and where was Ang Lee born?
Ang Lee was born on October 23, 1954 in Chaojhou, Pingtung, Taiwan.
How many credits does Ang Lee have?
Ang Lee has accumulated over 83 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2025.
What is Ang Lee's background in cinema and television?
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 inte...
Ang Lee by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self — aged about 7
- Thirteen Talks (2016) — aged about 61
- The Wedding Banquet (1993) as Guest at the Wedding Banquet (uncredited) — aged about 38
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 1
- The Colbert Report (2005) — aged about 50
- Trespassing Bergman (2013) as Self — aged about 58
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