Bruce Lee Received a $1,800 Exclusive Contract Once, Worth Eighteen Times More Than Teaching Martial Arts

Destiny works in mysterious ways, and for?Bruce Lee, a huge surprise came in the form of a particular role in Hollywood. The legendary martial arts trainer was slowly establishing his hold on acting and creating a niche of his own. Amidst this, however, he had his wife, Linda, and newborn son Brandon, to take care of.

In his memoirs,?Bruce Lee: A Life, producer William Dozier noticed the combat legend and immediately saw potential. What followed was one of the biggest moments in Lee’s life. A series left unfinished, a coincidental role, and opened doors to Hollywood – this is the story of Bruce Lee’s turning point.

How Bruce Lee entered the hearts of Americans with an exclusive contract

In the 60s, when Lee was neck-deep in martial arts training and performances, he caught a producer’s eye. William Dozier was desperately looking for a Chinese actor who could speak English and could act with ease. When he heard about Lee and saw one of his films, he knew he had found his hero. He called him in for a screen test in LA.

Amidst this, Lee already had his hands full. His wife Linda had just given birth, and the legend had some conflict over leaving her and his newborn son. Nevertheless, the couple was excited about this new opportunity, and Lee ended up giving his screen test for the role. The series,?Number One Son,?was based on Charlie Chan’s son – a Chinese detective. And the star crushed the test successfully.

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Upon acing the audition, Dozier made a proposal to Lee.?He offered him an exclusive contract?for a whopping $1,800. For the martial arts trainer, who made about $100 per month with his teaching, this was eighteen times his pay! Lee did not hesitate and immediately agreed. But in a twist of events,?Number One Son?never got made! A better opportunity came up that made Lee a household name, both in America and Hong Kong.

The Kato Show in Hong Kong: Lee’s success with the character

While Charlie Chan’s son’s story didn’t seem to tickle anyone’s fancy, Dozier came up with something else.?Abandoning?Number One Son, the producer had no plans of letting Lee go and offered him another role instead. This time, it was the role of a sidekick.

Lee was charted to play the role of Kato for the hit series?Green Hornet.?The series successfully caught public attention, and the martial arts legend got a ticket into the hearts of Americans. Meanwhile, his role grew so popular in Hollywood that citizens called it?The Kato Show?instead of its original name. Such was the star’s legacy, and it remains intact.

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