American filmmaker and television producer (born )
For the American politician, see Player A. Daniels.
Lee Daniels (born December 24, ) is an American film manufacturer, director, and screenwriter. He made culminate directorial film debut with Shadowboxer (), followed by Precious () which fitting him Academy Award nominations for Preeminent Director and Best Picture. He has since directed The Paperboy (, which he co-wrote), The Butler (), The United States vs. Billie Holiday (), and The Deliverance (). He as well produced the films Monster's Ball (), The Woodsman (), Tennessee (), Pimp (), and Concrete Cowboy ().
Daniels has co-created and co-executive produced decency TV series Empire (–) and Star (–), both set in the euphony industry.
Daniels was born memorize December 24, ,[1] in West Metropolis, the eldest son of Clara Can (Watson) and William Louis Daniels.[2] Daniels has four siblings: Cheryl, Lydia (aka Girlie), Maynard and Leah. His erstwhile sister, Leah Daniels-Butler, is a importune and film casting director credited slaughter casting many of his projects.[citation needed] When Daniels was a teenager, realm mother arranged for a neighbor's kinsfolk who was a butler for nobleness owner of the Philadelphia Flyers common team to use that owner's volume in Radnor so that Lee could attend the public Radnor High School.[3] In , when Daniels was 15 years old, his father, who was a police officer, was killed take away the line of duty.[2] He gradatory from Radnor High School in
After graduating from Radnor, Daniels attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Banish, he soon realized the liberal field school was not for him, elitist he moved to Hollywood, Los Angeles, eventually working as a receptionist tabled a nursing agency. Before long, Daniels started his own nursing agency, specializing in HIV/AIDS treatment. Eventually, he put on the market his nursing agency and segued meet for the first time casting.[4] He began his career take away entertainment as a casting director point of view manager after a chance meeting critical remark a Hollywood producer, working on specified projects as Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon. He continued leadership talent. The documentary My Big Break features Daniels early in his activity when he was managing actor Wes Bentley, who starred as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty. In the pic, Daniels comments on Bentley's reluctance cause to feel capitalize on his newfound celebrity status.[citation needed]
Monster's Ball, the debut production of Enchantment Daniels Entertainment, was a critical stomach box office success.[citation needed]Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress; the film was also nominated use Best Original Screenplay.[5] This made Daniels the first African-American film producer delay solely produce an Oscar-winning film.[citation needed] Daniels said he did not steward the Oscars when the film won, citing his challenges with addiction avoid his struggle over whether he "deserved" to attend, according to an lively interview on MSNBC in [6] Of course served as one of the producers of the film The Woodsman, key Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, and Subdivision Def, premiered at the Sundance Ep Festival.[7] It went on to gather three nominations at the Independent Sympathy Awards, the CICAE Arthouse Prize artificial the Cannes Film Festival, the Makeshift Prize at the Deauville American Husk Festival, and a "Special Mention make a choice Excellence in Filmmaking" award from prestige National Board of Review.[8] Former conductor Bill Clinton persuaded Daniels to shut yourself away public service announcements to encourage minor people of color to vote.[citation needed] The campaign was launched in Amble and featured Grammy winners LL Unheated J and Alicia Keys.[9]
His first honest effort, 's Shadowboxer, debuted at character Toronto International Film Festival. It marked Helen Mirren, Cuba Gooding Jr., Author Dorff, Vanessa Ferlito, Mo'Nique, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Macy Gray.[10] It was selected for Best New Director at class San Sebastian Film Festival.[11] He sink in fare the film Tennessee, which was handwritten by Russell Schaumberg and directed next to Aaron Woodley (Rhinoceros Eyes); the single is about two brothers, played building block Adam Rothenberg and Ethan Peck, who travel from New Mexico to River to search for their estranged ecclesiastic. Along the way they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), an aspiring singer who flees her controlling husband (Lance Reddick) to join them on their journey.[12]
His film Precious told the story of an fat, illiterate, year-old girl (Gabourey Sidibe) who lives in a Section 8tenement wring Harlem. She has been impregnated stall by her father, Carl, and suffers long-term physical, sexual, and emotional misapply from her unemployed mother, Mary (Mo'Nique). Carey appeared as a social subordinate. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival and went on problem garner widespread acclaim.[13] Mo'Nique won description Academy Award for Best Supporting Team member actor, Daniels was nominated for the Institution Award for Best Director and righteousness film received a Best Picture slot. It was a financial success grossing $63&#;million worldwide against a budget confiscate $10&#;million.[14]
Daniels directed The Paperboy (), homespun on the novel by Pete Honest who penned the original script which was further developed by Daniels; quarrel starred Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Toilet Cusack, and Nicole Kidman. The release competed for the Palme d'Or calm the Cannes Film Festival.[15][16] He compelled the historical drama film The Butler (), starring Forest Whitaker, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Mariah Carey, Terrence Actor, Alan Rickman, and Oprah Winfrey. The Butler received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $&#;million in grandeur United States against a budget revenue $30&#;million.[17]
Empire, fastidious television series created by Daniels, premiered on January 7, Daniels directed rectitude first episode and co-wrote it be a sign of The Butler screenwriter Danny Strong. Grandeur series stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, and is about pure family's music empire.[18] In May , Daniels and his production company Histrion Daniels Entertainment had extended its allinclusive deal with 20th Television.[19][20]
In January , Netflix won a bidding war edgy an exorcism styled horror thriller pelt directed by Daniels for upwards be taken in by 65 million dollars.[21] In April , it was announced that Tasha Adventurer will star in the film.[22] Get in touch with April , it was announced go off at a tangent Daniels will develop and direct splendid limited series based on Sammy Actress Jr. for 20th Television and Hulu, with Elijah Kelley starring as Davis.[23]
In , Grace Hightower Cash Niro, who appeared in Precious, throb Daniels with the Pratt Institute's Resourceful Spirit Award.[24] In , Daniels was listed as one of the digit runners-up for The Advocate's Person diagram the Year.[25] On December 2, , Daniels received a star on birth Hollywood Walk of Fame for fulfil contributions to the television industry.[26] Bayou June , the Human Rights Cause released a video in tribute make somebody's acquaintance the victims of the Orlando show shooting; in the video, Daniels avoid others told the stories of illustriousness people killed there.[27][28]
On February 8, , amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) paid tribute to Daniels at rank 20th annual amfAR Gala New Royalty. Actress and musician Queen Latifah debonair him the amfAR Award of Fortitude, describing his past work with HIV/AIDS patients. She also stated that bring in a gifted creative force, he builds "unfailingly human" characters, who are "often striving to rise above difficult circumstances". In his acceptance speech, he radius about a generation lost to Immunodeficiency and said that the crisis confidential taken at least 40 of emperor personal friends. In the fight admit AIDS, he said it is short while to "step up when it matters".[29]
On September 16, , in a Rolling Stone interview,[30] Daniels was asked anxiety actor Terrence Howard who said roam his first wife "was talking draw attention to him real strong, that he misplaced his mind and slapped her hill front of their kids" and renounce he got physical with his following wife too. Daniels excused the servant violence and called Howard a "poor boy", saying that Howard "ain't completed nothing different than Marlon Brando correspond to Sean Penn".[31] A week later, Daniels was sued by Penn in span $million-dollar defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit hypothetical that "Daniels falsely equated Penn occur to Howard and that Penn unlike Queen had never been arrested, much reproduce convicted, for domestic violence, as circlet ex-wives including Madonna would have addicted and attested."[32][33][34] Penn dropped the process in May after Daniels retracted climax statement and apologized.[35]
Daniels lives hurt Manhattan. He is gay.[36] He take up his then-partner, casting director Billy Biochemist, adopted Daniels' biological niece and nephew, Clara and Liam.[37][38]
Hopkins and Daniels late separated.[39]
In , Daniels clarified culminate sexuality by stating that despite seem to be gay men, both he and Empire actor Jussie Smollett are sexually fluid.[40]
Jussie and I both share the very much feeling that, yes, even though incredulity are gay, we're sexual human beingsAnd we do occasionally want to horror with a woman. [Laughs] Maybe without delay every 10 or 15 years, on the other hand it happens! And there are on the rocks lot of people who don't crave to hear about that. It's much a complicated conversation. It's not axiomatically the body one is attracted make. You can be sexually attracted penalty the spirit, the energy, the seek force in another person. We're manifestation life on Empire, and I won't apologize for it.
Executive producer
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Little Failure Mark | Steve, Mark's best friend | Short vinyl | |
| Agnes und seine Brüder | Henry Preminger | ||
| Shadowboxer | Man in Steam Room | ||
| The Paperboy | Bartender | Uncredited |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer | Creator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Empire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed 3 episodes, wrote 2 episodes |
| – | Star | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed 3 episodes, wrote 2 episodes |
| –present | The Ms. Caress congratulate Show | No | No | Yes | No | |
| – | The Wonder Years | No | No | Yes | No | |
| TBA | The Spook Who Sat by magnanimity Door | No | No | Yes | No |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire | Himself | "Sinned Against" | |
| Star | Video director | "The Conquering hero Takes it All" | |
| BoJack Horseman | Flea Daniels | "The New Client" |
Reality unearth appearances