Even after working in The Green Hornet, Bruce Lee found it troubling to find better opportunities in Hollywood. Luckily, through his martial art classes, actor Steve McQueen and Lee developed a brotherly bond. He taught many things about the industry to the master. He advised Lee to attend Hollywood parties to make connections for better opportunities. However, Lee detested these get-togethers for a definite reason.
Lee?s biography, Bruce Lee: A Life, revealed the master?s hesitation in exposing himself to extravagant Hollywood parties. Wife Linda explained the striking difference between the nature of these parties and her husband.
Why did Bruce Lee detest Hollywood parties?
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Actor Steve McQueen assured the master not to worry about his acting skills. Instead, he advised him to meet the right people and impress them. For this, Lee had to visit Hollywood parties. However, as Lee was a relatively obscure actor in the industry then and the only Asian guest at those parties, he often felt like an outsider. He found it tough to gel in with the demeanor of American actors.
Bruce Lee?s wife, Linda Cadwell Lee explained in the master?s biography, ?The trouble with film parties is that the stars want to be at the center of things and Bruce was too much his own man, too conscious of his own worth, to join in the fawning, adulatory chorus that tends to surround the Big Name.?
On the other hand, Lee was too polite to everyone at these parties, but he wasn’t still able to get their attention. However, when Lee was sick of being ignored, he created his own spotlight. Linda told in the biography that he would perform push-ups among a group of people. He would startle everyone, either with his coin trick or his martial art skills and philosophies. That?s how he eventually created his space at such parties.
Besides being the only Asian at Hollywood parties, there was another reason why Lee found it tough to fit in.
Bruce Lee once commented on his intolerance for smoking and drinking
Bruce?s non-smoking and drinking habits were another reason he did not fit in well at Hollywood parties. He once revealed during an interview with Fighting Stars magazine, ?I?m not that type of cat.?
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Lee?s biography revealed, ?As drunken revelers puffed away and downed cocktails, he remained dead sober with a cup of tea in his hands.? This led many to believe he was a teetotaler.
In fact, Lee?s Enter The Dragon co-star Bob Wall once revealed that he convinced the master to drink twenty times, but he did not give in. Moreover, he once made him consume wine but Lee spitted it because it was not suiting his likeness.
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Despite his unique demeanor at Hollywood parties, Lee?s talent spoke for itself, making actors go gaga over his talent.