Bruce Lee Statue Unveiled in L.A.'s Chinatown

The seven-foot statue is the first of its kind in the U.S. to honor the late actor and martial arts expert.

Bruce Lee has been memorialized with a seven-foot bronze statue in L.A.'s Chinatown.

The statue of the late actor and martial arts expert was unveiled Saturday to a crowd of several hundred people in historic Central Plaza, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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Lee's daughter, Shannon, said the statue, which was created by an artist in Guangzhou, China, is the first of its kind to honor her father in the U.S. Its unveiling comes on the 40th anniversary of Lee's death -- as well as the 75th anniversary of Chinatown -- and was part of the annual celebration Chinatown Summer Nights.

The statue was donated by the Bruce Lee Foundation, a nonprofit group that was formed to honor Lee's legacy. It isn't yet permanently installed; business leaders are aiming to raise $150,000 for seating and a concrete base.

San Francisco-born Lee moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s and landed a role playing Kato on TV's The Green Hornet. During that time, he opened his third martial arts academy in Chinatown and worked out at the Alpine Recreation Center in the area.

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He went on enjoy a brief film career that included such movies as Enter the Dragon before dying at age 32 in 1973. According to his widow, Linda, Lee died from cerebral edema caused by hypersensitivity to an ingredient in a prescription medication called Equagesic.