Lee Daniels

Profession: Director

Nationality:

Biography: Lee Daniels is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter who first gained prominence as a producer with the film "Monster's Ball" (2001), for which Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar, making Daniels the first African-American to solely produce an Oscar-winning film.

Born in 1959 in West Philadelphia, Daniels faced early challenges, including the loss of his father, a police officer, when Daniels was 15. After briefly attending Lindenwood University, he moved to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles he started his own nursing agency specializing in HIV/AIDS treatment, drawing from his experiences during the AIDS crisis. Eventually he sold this agency and moved into the entertainment industry.

He made his directorial debut with "Shadowboxer" (2005), followed by his breakout film "Precious" (2009), which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Picture.

Daniels' other notable films as a director include "The Paperboy" (2012), "The Butler" (2013), and "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (2021). He has also found success in television, co-creating and co-executive producing the music industry-themed series "Empire" (2015–2020) and "Star" (2016–2019).

Throughout his career, Daniels has been recognized for his activism and advocacy, receiving honors such as the amfAR Award of Courage in 2018 for his work during the AIDS crisis. He has been open about his sexuality and has faced controversies, including a defamation lawsuit from actor Sean Penn.

Born: December 24, 1959
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Age: 64 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Capricorn