Diana Lee Inosanto

Last updated

Diana Lee Inosanto
Diana Lee Inosanto (53319163911).jpg
Inosanto in 2023
Other namesD. Lee Inosanto
Occupations
Spouse Ron Balicki (m. 1995)
Children2
Parent
Website dianaleeinosanto.com

Diana Lee Inosanto is an American actress, director, former stunt performer, [1] and martial artist. [2] She also wrote and directed the film The Sensei (2008), [3] and wrote the 2020 children's book The Curious Mind of Sebastian. [4]

Contents

Personal life

Inosanto is married to fellow martial artist Ron Balicki. They have two children. [5]

Career

Martial arts

Inosanto grew up surrounded by the martial arts world, studying many forms, including Jeet Kune Do and Eskrima, which she learned from her father, Dan Inosanto, a student of Jeet Kune Do founder Bruce Lee, who was also her godfather. [6] She has appeared on the cover of numerous martial arts magazines, including Black Belt Magazine , Martial Arts, Inside Karate, Self Defense, and Inside Kung Fu. She was named Woman of the Year by Black Belt Magazine in 2009.[ citation needed ]

Film and television

Apart from doing stunt work and choreography in numerous films and television productions, Inosanto has also acted in a number of movies and series. Her directorial debut, The Sensei , was released in 2008. [3]

In 2020, Inosanto appeared in one episode of the second season of Disney's The Mandalorian , playing the role of Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth. [7] She later reprised the role in Ahsoka and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire . [8]

Theatre

Inosanto is active in Southern California theatre as a member of the Asian American theatre group Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. In 2008, she worked with East West Players, serving as martial arts choreographer on the world premiere of Dan Kwong's play Be Like Water .[ citation needed ]

Writing

In 2020, Inosanto published her first book, the children's story The Curious Mind of Sebastian. [4] The same year, she also contributed a foreword to the Fiaz Rafiq book Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend. [9]

Selected filmography

Beach photoshoot, 2004 Diana Lee Inosanto on the beach.jpg
Beach photoshoot, 2004

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References

  1. "Ahsoka's Diana Lee Inosanto on her transition from stunt performer to actor". cbc.ca. March 13, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. "The Sensei" profiled by Jane Mee Wong in Northwest Asian Weekly
  3. 1 2 "A Different Kind of Martial Arts Film: D. Lee Inosanto's 'The Sensei' battles prejudice and homophobia in 1980s small town in Colorado". asianweek.com. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Adventure Theatre honors API Heritage Month with streaming special events". dcmetrotheaterarts.com. May 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. "Director fights hatred with martial arts". nwasianweekly.com. October 25, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  6. Bruce Lee - Die Faust Hollywoods, documentary by Annette Baumeister in the series Too Young To Die, ZDF / Arte, Germany 2015
  7. "Who Plays the Magistrate in The Mandalorian? Bruce Lee Connection Explained". screenrant.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. Bonomolo, Cameron (July 30, 2023). "Who's Who in Star Wars: Ahsoka". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  9. "Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend". bookdepository.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. "THE SENSEI—The Evening Class Interview with Diana Lee Inosanto". theeveningclass.blogspot.com. May 24, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  11. "Diana Lee Inosanto Signs with Gersh (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. April 19, 2023.
  12. Complex, Valerie (April 4, 2024). "'Star Wars: Tales of the Empire' Trailer: Disney+ Unveils Dave Filoni's Animated Follow-Up to 'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  13. StarWars.com Team (April 4, 2024). "Star Wars: Tales of the Empire Trailer Revealed". Star Wars . Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.