Son of Bill Lee.

His classmate in Tisch School of the Arts was director Ang Lee. The Taiwanese director once worked on the crew of Spike Lee's thesis film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983).

His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, helped fund his first full-length feature film, She's Gotta Have It (1986).

Is now (2002) the Artistic Director of the graduate division of the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The position gives Lee an advisory position, allowing him to teach and advise third year students, as well as aid with industry networking.

Dated model Veronica Webb.

Cousin of Malcolm D. Lee.

Between the making of his award-winning student short, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), and his debut feature, She's Gotta Have It (1986), Lee attempted to make a featured called "Messenger". Over $100,000 was raised, but the film never materialized.

Is a huge Arsenal fan and personal friend of team ex-captain Theirry Henry, who now plays for FC Barcelona. Is often known to wear Arsenal Jersey's while on set.

The name of his production company, "40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks", came from an unfulfilled promise that many politicians made to freed slaves after the Civil War.

Made the introduction of the song "The Church" for De La Soul's album "The Grind Date".

Brother of Joie Lee, Cinqué Lee and David Lee.

Has been trying for more than ten years to direct his dream project: a film about the life and times of Jackie Robinson. Says that he personally promised to Robinson's widow, Rachel Isum, to make the film. Another as-of-yet (2003) project he has often spoke of but has yet to do is a film on the boxing match between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling.

He and producer/director Monty Ross are frequent collaborators and were classmates and graduates of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Was featured in numerous Nike campaigns in the early '90s

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.

Vied for the director's seat on Ali (2001). Says that he knew he wouldn't get the job after speaking to the movie's star, Will Smith (one of the many financiers on Lee's Get on the Bus (1996)), who wanted Lee to make a film with "a broader appeal".

Is a huge Arsenal fan and personal friend of team captain Thierry Henry. Is often known to wear Arsenal jerseys while on set.

His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, an alumna of Spelman College (class of 1929), sent him to Morehouse College, the historically black all-male institution affiliated with the all-female Spelman College.

The Lees bought their 9,800-square-foot Italian- palazzo-style home from Jasper Johns in 1998; it was originally built for a Vanderbilt.

Grandson of Zimmie Shelton, who helped finance his featurette, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983). She received a producing credit on the film, which went on to win a Merit Award at the Student Academy Awards.

Graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979.

Was a Visiting Lecturer in Afro-American Studies and Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University in the early 1990s.

His favorite movie is The Deer Hunter. It is the movie that inspired him to make movies and be a director.

Is a big fan of musicals from Hollywood`s Golden Age.

When Norman Jewison was originally hired to direct Malcolm X (1992), Lee met with him and convinced him he needed to "sit this one out". Feeling that only a black director was qualified and would bring the necessary perspective, Lee then stepped in as director with Jewison`s blessing.

Is a fan of Michael Moore`s films. Bowling for Columbine (2002) was his favorite film of 2002.

Often casts real-life family members in his films. In Do the Right Thing (1989) , for example, he cast Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (real-life husband and wife), himself and Joie Lee (real-life siblings), and Danny Aiello and Rick Aiello (real-life father and son). Other films he does this in include School Daze (1988), Mo` Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991) and Malcolm X (1992).

He has never learned how to drive an automobile.

Children, with Tonya Lewis Lee, Satchel (b. 1994) and Jackson (b. 1997).

Graduated from New York University`s Tisch School of the Arts in 1982.

Serves as a master teacher of film at the Tisch School of the Arts and Harvard University.

After the Columbine high school shootings Spike said that National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston should be shot. Heston replied that if Spike wanted to take a shot at him he should go ahead and try it. Lee later apologized for the comments.

Friend of Soledad O`Brien.

Son of Bill Lee. Brother of Joie Lee, Cinqué Lee and David Lee.

His production company is 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks.

Big New York Knicks fan: Has courtside seats for all games. Partially responsible for the "off colored" baseball caps, as he started wearing a red Yankees cap during the 1996 World Series.

His films frequently involve African Americans and African-American themes.

Frequently casts John Turturro,Samuel L. Jackson, Delroy Lindo, Kim Director`. and Roger Guenveur Smith

Frequently casts himself.

Spouse: Tonya Lewis Lee (2 October 1993 - present) 2 children

Born Shelton Lee, in Atlanta, Georgia. At a very young age, he moved to Brooklyn, New York.