Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Born in Orange, California in 1970, Jason Lee is an American film photographer, actor, producer, and director. Well known for having been a professional skateboarder during skateboarding's very pivotal late 80s and early 90s, Lee would go on to pursue acting in 1993, working in film, television, and voiceover, and with such directors as Kevin Smith, Cameron Crowe, Lawrence Kasdan, and Brad Bird.



Retiring from skateboarding in 1995, Lee has maintained solid ties to the industry, most notably through his partnership with longtime friend and fellow ex-professional skateboarder, Chris Pastras, and their now 25-year-old skate brand, Stereo Skateboards, which Lee co-manages with Pastras.



In 2002, Lee developed a passion for film photography and has been an active photographer and film advocate ever since, having had his work both published and exhibited throughout the years. In October 2016, Lee published a selection of small and large format Polaroid and Fuji instant film photographs spanning a decade as a special limited hardbound issue of Fort Worth-based Refueled Magazine. Just 500 sold-out signed and numbered copies were produced, with three of those copies now living in the libraries of the SFMOMA, Amon Carter, and Philbrook museums. Lee's next publication, to be released in 2017, will be a book comprised of large format color film photographs made throughout Texas.



Lee is also the subject of a 2018 documentary from director Greg Hunt that will take the viewer on the road with him as he exposes his remaining boxes of now-expired 8x10 Polaroid film, a favorite medium of Lee's and one that is no longer being produced. An accompanying book of the large format Polaroids will be published, with the originals being exhibited. Additionally in 2018, Lee will be publishing and exhibiting selections of B&W film photographs from the past 10 years, with the collection's focus primarily on the West Coast and Southwest.



Lee has also produced and directed music videos for Beck and the band Midlake, a short documentary and live concert film featuring Midlake, two Stereo Skateboards films, and a previously unreleased 2006 short film starring Giovanni Ribisi and Beth Riesgraf, which will have its online debut in 2017.



'Acting has been a lot of fun, and I've liked that I've been able to bounce around a bit, and that I was able to make some movies for my kids, do some dramas, play 'Earl,' work with Pixar... It's a fun gig. And I enjoy being a part of that bigger process. But just as with skateboarding, photography is much more uniquely personal, and more of an independent endeavor. Very fulfilling. I look forward to continuing to work as an actor, as I do maintaining my ties to skateboarding and having Stereo as the outlet that it's been for me for over two decades now, and perhaps directing more projects, but photography will remain my primary creative focus as it has been for the past 15 years.'



Lee can be followed on Instagram at @jasonlee, @stereoskateboards, and @filmphotographic, an Instagram film community gallery and resource page founded by Lee in 2015.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Core PR

Spouse (2)

Trade Mark (3)

Distinctive Raspy Voice



Often cast by Kevin Smith



Often references Burt Reynolds in his work



Trivia (15)

Dropped out of high school to be a pro skate boarder.



Retired from skateboarding in 1995 after being pro for 7 years.



Co-Owner of Stereo Skateboards with Chris Pastras.





Was cast as Loki in Dogma (1999), but had to take a smaller part (Azrael) because of scheduling conflicts, so the role went to Matt Damon . His performance as Azrael would lead to him being cast in Die Unglaublichen (2004)



Mentioned a number of occasions in the autobiography of skating legend Tony Hawk , "Hawk: Occupation Skateboarder".

Given a shoe deal from Airwalk during his skateboarding days.



Attended Ocean View High School, (Huntington Beach, CA).



Became infamous for naming his son 'Pilot Inspektor'.





Has voiced both a hero and a villain in Disney films - he played the voice of the title character in Underdog - Unbesiegt weil er fliegt (2007) and was the voice of maniacal madman "Syndrome" in Disney/Pixar's Die Unglaublichen (2004).



Wife Ceren Alkac gave birth to their 1st child, a daughter Casper Lee, on August 10, 2008.



During an interview with friend Kevin Smith , Lee stated that he was inspired to become an actor by the Coen brothers' film, Barton Fink (1991), particularly by Steve Buscemi 's performance as "Chet".

Currently resides in Denton, Texas [October 2018].





Wife Ceren Alkac gave to their 2nd child, a son Sonny Lee, on June 16, 2012.

Personal Quotes (11)



On working with Lawrence Kasdan and Cameron Crowe , and Writer-Directors in general: I'd love to establish relationships with other writer-directors, too, but Chasing Amy (1997) is what got things going for me, and I'll always stick by Kevin.



On his performance as a rock star in Almost Famous - Fast berühmt (2000): "I wanted to be very serious about being a musician -- a guy who cares a lot about the music and the band and why we did it in the first place. We wanted to show an actual passion on stage with the intent of turning on the audience."

(On skateboarding injuries) I have scars on my knees from smashing into the corner of cement benches. I have scars on my pelvis from jumping off my board and sliding like Superman down a hill. One time I snapped my wrist in half and had to get a cast on my arm. Like an idiot, I skated before the cast was taken off, and I fell again and broke my other arm. For the next three months I had to brush my teeth using only my thumb and pinkie.



(2006 quote on fame) When you reach a certain status in Hollywood, you have to play a lot of games to stay in the limelight. It becomes more about being famous than being an actor. It's a cult of personality. Who's the It person this week? Who has the hottest girlfriend and the most bling-bling? Who showed up at the MTV Video Music Awards in a Hummer limousine? For me it's always more rewarding when people come up to me and say, "I loved you in Mumford. What's your name again?" That's how I've always wanted it to be.





(On My Name Is Earl (2005) and the perks of doing TV) The best thing about Earl is the steady income. I can do films if and when I want, as opposed to doing a film I don't really believe in because I have to pay the bills. I've never been at a Vince Vaughn or Ben Stiller level, so I don't get offered a lot of starring roles in comedy blockbusters. I've done some independent films that I'm proud of, but it's seven weeks of work for not much money. So then you have to find as many acting jobs as you can, just to keep up financially. "Earl" came along at the right time for me.

(On getting into acting) I was just curious about it, in much the same way you might be curious about how cars are made or how to get to the moon. It was naiveté. My girlfriend's mother was a talent manager, and when I told her I wanted to do movies, she said, "Okay, let's give it a shot." So many people would have said, "Oh, I don't know. Let's get you into some acting classes first and see how it goes." That would have been a bit deflating, and I think I would've lost interest.



(On retiring from skateboarding) When I decided to retire, I thought I was getting a little too old to be skating for a living. There was a lot of pressure to be at the top of my game all the time, and my heart just wasn't in it anymore. But I haven't given up skating completely. I still cruise around now and then just for fun. I'm way past my prime, so nobody expects much from me anymore.





[2010, on My Name Is Earl (2005) being canceled and landing Memphis Beat (2010)] I definitely miss "Earl" and working on the show. It was a shame the way they canceled it. We didn't get to finish the series. I was devastated; we were all confused. But I guess life goes on and now here I am working on something entirely different.



[on acting work before landing Mallrats (1995)] The most I ever did, really, was a small walk-on part in Mi vida loca (1993). I had done a Sonic Youth video that Spike Jonze shot where I was skateboarding. I flew to Malaysia to do skateboarding double work for a British Petroleum commercial. Other than that, I had headshots over the years here and there, and nothing ever came of it.

(2000 quote on his acting success) The day I become the jaded, cynical, asshole actor that takes it all for granted, doing parts just for money, is the day I get the fuck out of acting for good. I'll never let that happen.



Salary (1)