Ang Lee Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Children, Movies, Awards

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese-American film director whose masterful storytelling has redefined global cinema across genres and cultures. He earned Academy Awards for Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Life of Pi (2012), becoming the first Asian to win Best Director twice.

Lee’s triumphs include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which won four Oscars and grossed $213 million worldwide. He directed the family drama The Wedding Banquet (1993), the martial arts epic Lust, Caution (2007), and the innovative Gemini Man (2019).

Lee’s empathetic lens and technical brilliance have earned him three Oscars, two Golden Globes, and the title of Taiwan’s most influential filmmaker.

Profile

• Full Name: Ang Lee
• Stage Name: Ang Lee
• Born: October 23, 1954
• Age: 71 years old
• Birthplace: Chaozhou Township, Taiwan
• Nationality: Taiwanese-American
• Occupation: Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter
• Height: 1.70m
• Parents: Lee Sheng and Yang Si-Chuan Lee
• Siblings: Lee Kang
• Spouse: Jane Lin (m. 1983)
• Children: Haan Lee, Mason Lee
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $60 million

Early Life and Education

Ang Lee was born on October 23, 1954, in Chaozhou Township, Taiwan, to Lee Sheng, a high school principal, and Yang Si-Chuan Lee, a homemaker. He grew up with his brother, Lee Kang, who later became a producer.

Lee studied at the National Tainan First Senior High School before enrolling in the National Taiwan College of Arts, graduating in 1975 with a theater degree. He moved to the U.S. in 1979, earning a BFA from the University of Illinois and an MFA in film from NYU Tisch in 1984.

Lee embraces Taiwanese heritage, though he keeps his religious beliefs private.

Career

Ang Lee began his career directing student films at NYU, with Fine Line (1984) winning Best Short at the Golden Harvest Awards. He spent six years unemployed, writing scripts while his wife Jane supported the family.

Lee broke through with Pushing Hands (1991), followed by The Wedding Banquet (1993), which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. He directed Eat Drink Man Woman (1994), another Oscar nominee, and adapted Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1995) with Emma Thompson.

Lee won the Golden Bear for The Ice Storm (1997). These early works blended Eastern restraint with Western narratives, establishing his cross-cultural voice.

Lee directed the wuxia masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), winning four Oscars including Best Foreign Language Film. He earned his first Best Director Oscar for Brokeback Mountain (2005), a landmark LGBTQ+ drama.

Lee revolutionized 3D with Life of Pi (2012), winning his second Oscar and grossing $609 million globally. He explored war in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016) and pushed frame rates with Gemini Man (2019).

Lee produced Lust, Caution (2007) and Taking Woodstock (2009). His films have grossed over $2 billion worldwide.

Lee’s technical innovation and emotional depth consistently redefine cinematic boundaries.

Ang Lee continues to mentor filmmakers and develop projects through his Focus Features partnership. He received the 2013 BAFTA Fellowship and the 2021 Venice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lee’s 13 features have earned 10 Oscar wins and 38 nominations. He supports Taiwanese cinema through masterclasses in Taipei.

Lee’s legacy lies in bridging East and West with universal human stories.

Social Media

Ang Lee does not have active social media account

Personal Life

Ang Lee married biologist Jane Lin in 1983; the couple raised sons Haan Lee, a director, and Mason Lee, an actor who starred in Billy Lynn. They reside in a quiet home in Larchmont, New York, where Lee gardens and practices tai chi.

He maintains close ties with his parents’ memory, often visiting Chaozhou. Lee enjoys cooking Taiwanese dishes and reading philosophy.

He supports education initiatives in rural Taiwan anonymously.

Filmography

• Pushing Hands (1991)
• The Wedding Banquet (1993)
• Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
• Sense and Sensibility (1995)
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
• Brokeback Mountain (2005)
• Life of Pi (2012)
• Gemini Man (2019)

Net Worth

Ang Lee has an estimated net worth of $60 million. His income flows primarily from directing fees, profit participation in blockbusters, and producing credits.

Global box-office earnings exceeding $2 billion provide major revenue. Speaking engagements and honorary awards contributed to his finances.