Anthony Lee (actor) facts for kids

Anthony Dwain Lee (born July 17, 1961 – died October 28, 2000) was an American actor and writer for plays. He started acting in the 1980s, performing in many plays, and also had guest roles on TV shows and in movies. Sadly, Anthony Lee was shot and killed by a police officer on October 28, 2000, while at a Halloween party. His death and the events around it received a lot of attention from news outlets all over the country and the world.

Early Life and Acting Career

Anthony Lee was born in Redding, California. He grew up in Sacramento, California, where his family lived. He went to Valley High School there.

Lee began acting when he was 20 years old. He took a community acting class that put on shows for people living in retirement homes. His first professional acting jobs were at The Sacramento Theater Company. In 1986, he went to Ashland, Oregon and tried out for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). This festival is very well-known for its plays. He got a ten-month acting contract there for the next season.

At OSF, Lee starred in a play called Master Harold and the Boys. He also had a main role in a play by Carson McCullers. While working at OSF, he met Serena Scholl, who was also an actress and later became his wife. They moved to Seattle in 1988 and got married there on August 8, 1988. Lee moved because he got a part in the play The Colored Museum.

Lee kept acting in many stage productions. He performed at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. He was in plays like The Cider House Rules and Spunk. He also acted in A Raisin in the Sun. He performed in The Kentucky Cycle at the Intiman Theatre. Other plays he was in include Uncle Vanya and The Meeting, where he played Malcolm X. He also played the main character in Othello. In 1995, he won an award for "Best Actor" for his role in "Buffalo Soldier."

Anthony Lee's last TV appearance was on the show ER. He played a homeless man in an episode called "Rescue Me." This episode aired on November 23, 2000, and was dedicated to him.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Anthony Lee was raised as a Baptist. However, in 1986, he started practicing Nichiren Buddhism with the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in Sacramento. Both he and his wife, Serena Scholl, practiced Buddhism with SGI-USA. They were active members and leaders, helping other people who practiced Buddhism.

The Events of His Death

On October 28, 2000, Anthony Lee was at a costume party in Benedict Canyon. The party was at a friend's large house. News reports said that Lee had worn a cape and mask to Halloween parties before. Police later said he was carrying a fake gun made of rubber. It looked like a real .357 Magnum Desert Eagle handgun.

Around 1:00 AM, two police officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrived. They were there because of a noise complaint. A security guard at the party met the officers. The guard led them to the kitchen and then left to find one of the party hosts.

Before the hosts could be found, Officer Terrill Hopper left the kitchen. He went through a side door and walked along a dark, narrow path behind the house. He used his flashlight to see. He then came to a glass door. Behind this door were Anthony Lee and his friend, Jeff Denton, who was also an actor. They were in Denton's bedroom, talking with another actor, when they saw Officer Hopper's flashlight.

Officer Hopper then shot through the glass door nine times. Anthony Lee was hit four times, once in the head and three times in the back. He died at the scene. Officer Hopper later said he shot because Lee pointed the fake gun at him. He stated he did not know the gun was a toy.

Questions About His Death

After Anthony Lee's death, there were many questions. The LAPD chief, Bernard C. Parks, said that Officer Hopper acted in self-defense. He said Lee was pointing the fake gun directly at the officer. The chief showed the fake gun, saying it looked very real.

However, the results of Lee's autopsy were released later. The autopsy showed that Lee was shot in the back of the head and three times in the back. This was different from the police report that said Lee was facing the officer and pointing the gun.

Because of these findings, a famous lawyer named Johnnie Cochran filed a lawsuit against the LAPD for Lee's family. He said the LAPD's explanation was hard to believe. Cochran pointed out that many fake guns have bright orange tips to show they are not real. He said trained officers should know this. The LAPD chief suggested that Lee might have turned or ducked when he was shot, which is why he was hit in the back. But Cochran and his experts disagreed with this idea.

Other people at the party also filed lawsuits against the LAPD. Jeff Denton, who was standing next to Lee, said he suffered from stress after the event.

The lawsuit filed by Lee's sister, Tina Lee-Vogt, did not go to trial. This was because the security guards, who were important witnesses, could not be found. In 2003, the LAPD settled with Lee-Vogt for $225,000.

The LAPD and the District Attorney's office also investigated the shooting. Officer Hopper told investigators that Lee looked at him, reached for his waistband, and pulled out what looked like a gun. Hopper said he feared for his life and fired his weapon. He stated that Lee kept the weapon pointed at him.

The LAPD used a computer to recreate the shooting based on the evidence. They said this recreation supported Officer Hopper's story. In 2001, an LAPD board decided that Officer Hopper's actions were justified. They also suggested he get more training.

Aftermath and Impact

Many of Anthony Lee's friends and family still do not agree with the LAPD's explanation of what happened. His sister, Tina Lee-Vogt, found it hard to believe because of the autopsy report showing he was shot in the back. Friends also felt that Lee would never have pointed a weapon, real or fake, at an officer.

Lee's death brought more criticism to the LAPD. At that time, the police department was already facing problems with its reputation due to other issues. The story of Anthony Lee's shooting received a lot of attention across the country. His story was even featured on the TV show 48 Hours.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Anthony Lee para niños