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Lee Daniels Biography

Birth Name:Lee Louis Daniels

Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Actor, Writer, Casting department

Fast Facts

Is the first African-American to be nominated for a Director's Guild of America Award
Received the 2013 Hollywood Director Award at the Hollywood Film Awards
Was honored at the 2018 amFAR Gala
Quote: "[on "Empire"] "That content opens you up․ Music is universal․ Not just from a racial perspective, but also from a sexual perspective․ It brings everyone together - everyone can connect to music․""
Quote: "[on the 15-minute standing ovation for "Precious" at Cannes] "I'm a director - after six minutes, I'm saying, please sit down․ But I'm also a producer, so I'm thinking, what's the record? Can we break the record for the longest standing ovation?""
Gained recognition for producing "Monster's Ball․"
Based a number of plotlines from his series "Empire" on his childhood

Awards

2005Black Reel-Best Independent Film: winner
2005Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
2009AAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2009EDA Award-Best Picture: nominated
2009ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2009Un Certain Regard Award-: nominated
2009Audience Choice Award-: winner
2009DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2009Russell Smith Award-: winner
2009Grand Special Prize-: nominated
2009Jury Special Prize-: winner
2009Audience Award-Best Narrative Feature: winner
2009HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2009Audience Award-: winner
2009TVE Otra Mirada Award-: winner
2009Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2009Audience Choice Award-Best Feature Film: winner
2009FIPRESCI Prize - Honorable Mention-: winner
2009Bronze Horse-: nominated
2009Audience Award-Dramatic: winner
2009Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic: winner
2009People's Choice Award-: winner
2009People's Choice Award-Best Film: winner
2009WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
2010Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
2010Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
2010Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske kinofilm): nominated
2010BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Film: winner
2010Black Reel-Best Director: winner
2010Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2010DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
2010Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
2010Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: winner
2010Audience Award-PZC Award: winner
2010Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television): winner
2010PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
2010Stanley Kramer Award-: winner
2011CinEuphoria-Top Ten of the Year - International Competition: winner
2011CinEuphoria-Top Ten of the Year - Audience Award: winner
2011Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): nominated
2012Palme d'Or-: nominated
2013Hollywood Film Award-Director of the Year: winner
2013Best of Puchon-: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Director: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Movie of the Year: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Director, Motion Picture: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
2014Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture: nominated
2015Individual Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series: nominated
2021Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated