Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee’s Hollywood TV Appearances
Chinese American martial arts movie star Bruce Lee is most well known for kung fu films. Before his untimely death in1973, he’d starred in three major motion pictures, including the yet to be released classic “Enter The Dragon”. He also had a small role in the James Garner (The Rockford Files) crime flick, “Marlowe”, co-starring Carroll O’Connor of Archie Bunker “All In The Family” fame”. Lee is an unparalleled fight film and a martial arts icon, but it’s often forgotten he got his big break on American television. Hollywood TV shows like his guest starring on “Ironside” with Raymond Burr, “Batman” with Adam West and on his own show “The Green Hornet”, propelled Mr. Lee to big films and helped create a true cinema legend.
The Green Hornet (1966)
When one of the best martial artists on two high kicking feet takes a co-starring role in a comic book based TV show – what happens? Bruce Lee as Kato simply overshadowed his co-star Van Williams who played the title role. The show aired on ABC for only one season, produced by the producer who had created the mega hit “Batman”. Although a failure with audiences in America, the show was so successful in Hong Kong – because of Bruce Lee’s participation – it was renamed “The Kato Show” to highlight Lee’s sidekick character Kato.
Batman (1967)
Who’s the only kung-fu hep cat who can hope to loom larger, punch and kick with more flair than the iconic Batman? When Green Hornet (Van Williams) and Bruce Lee’s Kato guest starred on ABC’s “Batman”, Lee’s physical prowess and undisputed charisma dazzled viewers. Over the years, there’s been a kind of Kato vs Robin myth – wherein Bruce Lee was said to be intent on really beating up actor Burt Ward to show how tough a guy he could be, but the truth is Ward and Lee were friends before he ever guested on the former’s show. They’d hang out together and would eat dinner together with Lee’s wife Linda, and son Brandon.
This was a short lived ABC crime drama show which had elements of the comic book “Daredevil” – relating the adventures of a blind crime fighter played by actor James Franciscus. Lee played an antiques dealer named Li Tsung and guest starred in four episodes. Tsung not only trained insurance investigator Mike Longstreet in the ways of fighting, but imparted bits of eye opening enlightenment with his life lessons and general philosophy. Writer Stirling Silliphant, an executive producer of the show, studied Jeet Kune Do – Bruce Lee’s fighting style – and the two men were also good friends.
Ironside (1967)
Once again, the dynamic Mr. Lee takes on the role of a martial arts instructor in this classic NBC crime show starring actor Raymond Burr. Lee’s character was named Leon Soo, and he provided details about his deceased father which was connected to one of Ironside’s crime cases. Although he has only a three minute scene, it’s chock full of eye popping fighting fun and that trademark Bruce Lee electricity, which fairly has him sparkle on the screen. Gene LeBell, one of America’s most noted and accomplished jujitsu and judo practitioners, spars with Bruce in the scene.
