Childhood and Education Journey of Spike Lee in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Spike Lee. A timeline of key moments.

Spike Lee is a prominent American filmmaker known for his exploration of race relations, social issues affecting the Black community, media's influence, and urban challenges. He has achieved critical acclaim, earning an Academy Award, multiple Emmy and BAFTA Awards, and Peabody Awards. Lee has also received honorary awards recognizing his significant contributions to cinema and his role in addressing important political and social themes.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1991: Teaching at Harvard

In 1991, Spike Lee taught a course about filmmaking at Harvard University.

1992: Meeting Tonya Lewis

In 1992, Spike Lee met his future wife, attorney Tonya Lewis Lee. They were married a year later.

1993: Teaching at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts

In 1993, Spike Lee began teaching at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the Graduate Film Program, where he also received his master of fine arts.

May 1999: Controversial Comment about Charlton Heston

In May 1999, at the Cannes Film Festival, the New York Post reported that Spike Lee made an inflammatory comment about Charlton Heston, president of the NRA, which he later said was a joke. Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey condemned Lee's comment.

2002: Appointment as Artistic Director at NYU

In 2002, Spike Lee was appointed as artistic director of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He is now a tenured professor at NYU.

June 2003: Spike TV Injunction

In June 2003, Spike Lee sought an injunction against Spike TV to prevent them from using his nickname, claiming viewers might associate him with the channel.

October 2005: Hurricane Katrina Comments

In October 2005, Spike Lee responded to a CNN anchor's question about the government's response to Hurricane Katrina by suggesting that it was not too far-fetched to believe the government intentionally ignored the plight of black Americans in New Orleans.

March 2012: Trayvon Martin Tweet Controversy

In March 2012, after the killing of Trayvon Martin, Spike Lee used Twitter to circulate an address believed to be that of George Zimmerman, which turned out to be incorrect. This led to death threats for the actual occupants and a later apology and settlement from Lee.

November 2013: Negligence Lawsuit Filed

In November 2013, the McClains filed a negligence lawsuit against Spike Lee related to the 2012 Trayvon Martin tweet incident, seeking $1.2 million in damages. The suit was later dismissed.

May 18, 2016: Commencement address for The Johns Hopkins University Class of 2016

On May 18, 2016, Spike Lee delivered the Commencement address for The Johns Hopkins University Class of 2016.

2018: GQ Interview: Favorite Films

In 2018, during an interview with GQ, Spike Lee cited some of his favorite films including On the Waterfront (1954), A Face in the Crowd (1957), and Mean Streets (1973).

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March 2020: Madison Square Garden Disagreement

In March 2020, Spike Lee had a disagreement with the security team at Madison Square Garden over which entrance to use for a New York Knicks game, leading him to state he would not attend the rest of the season's games.