| Lee Daniels | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biographical Information | |
| Birth name: | Lee Louis Daniels |
| Birth date: | December 24, 1959 (age 55) |
| Birth place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality: | American |
| Professional Information | |
| Occupation: | Actor, filmmaker |
| Years active: | 1986-present |
Lee Louis Daniels (born December 24, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker. He produced Monster's Ball and directed Precious, which received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Director; the film won two of the awards. In 2013, Daniels directed The Butler, a historical fiction drama featuring an ensemble cast portraying unique events on the 20th century presidents of the United States at the White House. Daniels is also the co-creator, director, writer, and producer of the critically acclaimed television series Empire that debuted in 2015.
Personal life[]
Daniels was born on Christmas Eve, 1959, the son of Clara Watson and William L. Daniels, in Philadelphia. He graduated from upscale, suburban Radnor High School in 1978, and then Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. He couldn't afford film school, so he started in a liberal arts college in Missouri but realized it wasn't for him, and started working as a receptionist in a nursing agency in California.
Lee has a sister, Joyce Daniels Fennell, both of them children of former Philadelphia police officer William Daniels, who was, as Daniels says, "killed in the line of duty" when Lee was a teenager, in 1975.[8] Daniels has also been very open about the fact that his father was violent and physically abusive towards him, and even tried "to beat it [being gay] out of me."
Daniels lives in New York City. He and his then-partner, casting director Billy Hopkins, adopted Daniels' biological niece and nephew, Clara and Liam. Hopkins and Daniels later separated. Daniels was in a relationship with Andy Sforzini. They separated in 2010.
Episodes Written[]
Season 1[]
- Pilot (with Danny Strong)