Brandon Lee

Birth Name: Brandon Bruce Lee

Date of Birth: February 1, 1965

Place of Birth: Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

Date of Death: March 31, 1993

Place of Death: Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Chinese, some degree of European
*mother – English, Irish, Swedish, Dutch

Brandon Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He starred in the films Legacy of Rage, Laser Mission, Showdown in Little Tokyo, Rapid Fire, and The Crow, and the Kung Fu television franchise.

Brandon was the son of teacher Linda Lee Cadwell (born Emery) and martial artist, actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, director, and filmmaker Bruce Lee. His father was of Chinese, and some degree of European, descent. His mother was born in Everett, Snohomish, Washington, and has English, Irish, Swedish, and Dutch ancestry. Some of his mother’s lines go back to New England of the 1600s. His sister is actress, martial artist, and businessperson Shannon Lee.

Brandon’s paternal grandfather was named Lee Hoi-chuen/Lee Moon-shuen. Hoi-chuen was born in Jun’an, Guangdong, China, and was a Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and film actor.

Brandon’s paternal grandmother was named Grace Ho. Grace is usually described as mixed-race, Chinese and European. She has often been stated as having been of part German or English ancestry, and the adopted daughter of businessperson Ho Kom-tong, who was of Dutch Jewish and Chinese descent, and of Cheung King-sin, a woman who was either Chinese or Eurasian. Kom-tong was the brother of famous businessperson Robert Hotung. It has also been stated that Ho Kom-tong was in fact Grace’s biological father.

Brandon’s maternal grandfather was Everett William Emery (the son of Orace Vernon Emery and Cora May/Mae Bentley). Everett was born in Everett, Snohomish, Washington. Orace was the son of Orace W. Emery, who was from a New England family, and of Kate Callagan, who was Irish. Cora was the daughter of Wilbur Gorton Bentley and Mary Anne Bailey.

Brandon’s maternal grandmother was Vivian Pryme Hester (the daughter of Everett Milton Hester and Clara J. Nelson). Vivian was born in Lowell, Snohomish, Washington. Everett was the son of Charles Cranfield Hester, who was born in Connecticut, to English parents; and of Esther/Ester Vandervoort/Vandervort. Clara was the daughter of Swedish parents, Nils Alfred Nelson and Anna.

Sources: Genealogies of Brandon Lee – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com

Genealogy of Brandon Lee (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.findagrave.com

Brandon’s maternal grandfather, Everett William Emery, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Brandon’s maternal grandmother, Vivian Pryme Hester, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org