Twenty years after Bruce Lee died, his son, Brandon, accidentally died during filming. Linda Lee Cadwell endured the devastating deaths of two of her loved ones. She tirelessly worked to keep her late husband's memory alive.
How Lee and Cadwell met
Linda Lee Cadwell, then Linda Emery, was born in Everett, Washington, on March 21, 1945. After graduating from Garfield High School in Seattle, she studied at the University of Washington. It was also the school where Lee studied philosophy and dramatics. The 75-year-old told CBS News that Lee was dynamic when they first met in 1963. She thought that he was something else. The pair started dating and got married on August 17, 1964.
Lee's death shocked the world
Nine years later, on July 20, 1973, Lee was 32 years old when he died of cerebral edema. After Lee's death, Cadwell worked as an educator for many years. She received teaching and political science degrees too. Lee's death was shocking and incomprehensible due to his dedication and control to his health. He committed to a fitness regime a hundred percent. The actor took vitamin supplements and avoided drinking and smoking. What he drank instead, were raw hamburger meat to tone his body perfectly. Watch ESPN's "30for30" for a documentary of the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee entitled "Be Water."
Shannon also pursued an acting career
Lee and Linda Lee Cadwell welcomed their two children, Brandon and Shannon, in 1965 and 1969, respectively. Apart from Brandon, Shannon also pursued an acting career. She made her debut as a party singer in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." The story of the film came from the book "Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew" which her mom wrote. Some of the movies where she appeared are "Cage II, High Voltage," and "Enter the Eagles," a Hong Kong action flick.
Brandon followed his dad's footsteps
Bruce Lee died after he took a painkiller that led him to fall into a coma. Twenty years later, his son, Brandon, tragically died after getting shot accidentally during filming on March 31, 1993.
Brandon wants nothing to do with show business or martial arts after his father's death. He told "The New York Times" that he does not want to carry the burden of being a famous actor's son. Still, in the end, he became an actor and a martial artist following his dad's footsteps. On March 31, 1993, the 28-year-old was shot with a defective prop gun during the filming of "The Crow." The crew immediately brought him to the hospital, but he did not survive the accident. He lies at Seattle's Lake View Cemetery next to his father.
Bruce Lee Foundation
As a co-founder with her mom, Shannon is now the president of the Bruce Lee Foundation. They are promoting Lee's teachings and philosophies and keeping his legend alive. Cadwell is a private person, so she prefers to stay out of the limelight. Over the years, she has kept Lee's memory alive working tirelessly. Cadwell said that she has always thought that she should make her late husband proud. Ever since the lost martial art legend died, she has been showing people what Lee was doing to benefit other people.
