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Lee Daniels

Celebrity

Lee Daniels: Biography

  • Birth Name: Leonardo Louis Daniels
  • Birth Place: Philadelphia, PA
  • Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 12/24/1959, Capricorn
  • Profession: Producer; director
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Lee Daniels Fast Facts:
  • His father was a policeman who was gunned down in a bar while off duty in 1975.
  • Moved to Hollywood after quitting college and worked as a receptionist for a nursing agency before successfully starting up a health-care agency of his own by the age of 22.
  • Acting on the advice of a producer working for singer Prince, began a career as a music-video casting director.
  • With his former partner Billy Hopkins, adopted the baby twins of his jail-bound brother when they were 3 days old.
  • Formed production company Lee Daniels Entertainment in 1984; its first feature effort, Monster's Ball (2001), earned two Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actress win for Halle Berry.
  • In 2004, produced public service announcements encouraging young people of color to vote.
  • Directorial debut came with the crime thriller Shadowboxer (2005), a violent and sexually explicit film about professional assassins who are also lovers. 
  • The first African-American to receive a nod from the Director's Guild of America and only the second nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Director category for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009).
  • Lee Daniels Relationships:
  • William Daniels - Father
  • Clara Daniels - Daughter
  • Liam Daniels - Son
  • Billy Hopkins - Ex-significant Other
  • Clara Daniels - Mother
  • Leah Daniels-Butler - Sister
  • Andy Sforzini - Significant Other
  • Lee Daniels Awards:
  • 2009 Oscar: Best Achievement in Directing - Nominee
  • 2009 Oscar: Best Motion Picture of the Year - Nominee
  • 2009 Toronto International Film Festival: People's Choice Award - Winner
  • 2009 Sundance Film Festival: Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Winner
  • 2009 Sundance Film Festival: Audience Award: Dramatic - Winner
  • 2009 BAFTA Awards: Best Film - Nominee
  • College:
  • Attended Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO
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