By staff reporter
Los Angeles—The newly installed pedestal for commemorative statue honoring Bruce Lee, the legendary Chinese American icon, was unveiled on September 28 at the Central Plaza in Los Angeles Chinatown.
The 7-foot bronze statue, the only one officially recognized by the Lee family, was temporarily installed in 2013 pending a permanent spot in Chinatown.
“The Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation’s unveiling of the Bruce Lee Statue will be a towering site to admire, especially when it’s the only on in the USA,” said Kevin de Leon, senator of the State of California. “The bronze icon along with the community are elevated with the celebration of New Chinatown’s 80th anniversary. This momentous event will memorialize the tradition, culture and history of the neighborhood.”
“I am glad to see my father’s statue installed in the permanent home in Chinatown 45 years after his passing,” said Shannon Lee, Chairperson of the Bruce Lee Foundation. “Although he was born in San Francisco, my father had a deeper connection with Los Angeles Chinatown.”
Bruce Lee made his name in Hollywood after his appearance in the TV series titled The Green Hornet in 1966, and became an iconic figure for his roles in such films as The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972) and Way of Dragon (1972).
Lee began to teach martial arts in the United States in the 1960s, and was a key figure in making Chinese Kung Fu popular throughout the world.
