Anthony Lee

Anthony Dwain Lee (July 17, 1961 – October 28, 2000) was an American actor and playwright. He began his career in the 1980s appearing in numerous stage productions, and in guest roles on television and in films. While attending a Halloween party on October 28, 2000, Lee was fatally shot by a Los Angeles Police Department officer. Lee's death, and the circumstances surrounding it, garnered significant national and international media attention. Early life and career Lee was born in Redding, California and grew up in a middle-class family in Sacramento where he attended Valley High School. Lee began acting at the age of 20 in a community acting class that performed productions at retirement and assisted living homes. His first professional productions were at The Sacramento Theater Company. In 1986, he traveled to Ashland, Oregon and auditioned at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) a nationally and internationally known Regional Equity theater. He was cast the following season at OSF with a ten month contract. Lee starred in Master Harold and the Boys, playing Willie, and a had a lead role in a Carson McCullers' play. Lee met his future wife, Serena Scholl, also an actress, at OSF. They moved to Sacramento then to Seattle in 1988 where they married on August 8, 1988. The move was precipitated by Lee being cast by Tim Bond in, The Colored Museum, at The Empty Space Theater.