Segment of 2013’s ATV Bruce Lee Commemorative Special Produced by Robert Chua: 40th Year Of Passing Of Our Dragon. Hosted by Frankie, Belinda and special guest, Audrey Winsome Tang, along with guest celebrity friend of the Lee family, Petrina Fung Bo-Bo. Producer and good friend of Bruce sat in as well with many friends and fans from all over the world.
The special guest of that evening was Phoebe Lee, elder sister of Bruce’s. Here in this segment, Phoebe tells of young Bruce before his fame and how he really was.
The transcript below is from the video “Bruce Lee Older Sister Recalls Childhood” by Marten GO.
Host of a Talk Show
“I’d like to ask Mrs. Phoebe, after Bruce became famous, in one aspect, was there any change in him?”
Phoebe Lee (Bruce Lee’s elder sister)
“After Bruce became famous… when he was young, he used to have a bad temper, you know. I mean, he was easily agitated to anger. Uh, he was very straightforward… and the littlest thing would enrage him. Okay, think about it this way… Bruce was very serious. Even a pair of his pants… we had maids you see. When the maid is ironing his pants, the pants had to be straight, like this. I mean, this line has to… no, not folded.
This, this crease right here, had to be straight. If it’s a little bent, after the maid ironed it a few times already… he’d snatch it like this, “I’ll iron it myself!” So he’d iron it again by himself and wear it. He took it very seriously.”
Host of a Talk Show
“By saying this Mrs. Phoebe, your point is when Bruce was young, before his fame, he lost his temper easily, but after his fame, Bruce was completely different in that aspect.”
Phoebe Lee (Bruce Lee’s elder sister)
“Well, the reason is after Bruce became famous, I was living in America in 1970. So… in 1971, Bruce was in Ameri, uh, went to Hong Kong… ’72, ’73, you know… Then in ’73 at that time, Bruce came back in May to see my mother. He’d give money to her to spend and also gave me a call. Bruce said, “Hey, ‘big eyed girl’ (her nickname)… why don’t you quit your job? Quit? Why? I was an accountant working at United (Airlines?)… I’ve worked there so many years already…
No, no, he’d say I’m really proficient at math, you see. So, he said, quit your job and return to Hong Kong in July. Follow me. Be my manager and do the numbers. Because I’m an accountant, you see. So I said to him, let me see how things go first, okay? Okay then, he said. I’m back but not coming to see you. Bruce called from LA, he was there to see mother only. He said, next month when I return in July, I will take mom back to Hong Kong to live comfortably, away from here. He really was very good.”
Host of a Talk Show
“Bruce must have been a very respectful child.”
Phoebe Lee (Bruce Lee’s elder sister)
“Bruce and father, the affection… no matter how father hit him, he remained very affectionate towards him. Think about it, father died in 1965. Bruce was the last to return. My father had been in the coffin for six days. When he came in, nothing mattered. Bruce threw down his… he had a leather bag… From the entrance, Bruce, down on his knees, crossed all the way to the altar.
He said, Father, I’m going to get the fame but you’re not here to enjoy it. I remember once when father was angry at Bruce doing gung fu. Bruce said, ‘Big brother’ (his dad’s nickname)… My grades may be poor but when it comes to making money, I’m the best! But one day, I’ll be famous and show you! Bruce became famous but father left already.”
Host of a Talk Show
“I believe your father saw it from heaven. I’m certain of it, he definitely was watching.”
Phoebe Lee (Bruce Lee’s elder sister)
“When Bruce came back, I saw him…kneel, kneeling by the altar. Bruce was crying uncontrollably. He really, I mean, treated my father with great affection.”
Host of a Talk Show
“He could wholeheartedly feel the family’s warmth and emotions. Nothing could ever replace that.”
Phoebe Lee (Bruce Lee’s elder sister)
“Actually, to people, a hero treats… a hero treats affection with the utmost sincerity. On the surface, appears to be hard… inside though, is full of tenderness. Really.”
Host of a Talk Show
“So having the biggest regret for Bruce, a father could have seen his success. That’s one thing that Bruce felt not so accountable for the life.”
“Yes and trusted his father and all the fans around the world can’t see it today, right.”
