Funeral Service Times August 2017 October 2018 | Page 40

40 REMARKABLE FUNERALS
Following Lee’s death, the release
of Enter the Dragon plunged him into
posthumous superstardom, leading a kung
fu craze across the world that saw the
release of novelty singles such as Kung Fu
Fighting by Carl Douglas. With Lee gone,
the future of Game of Death was up in
the air, a version was eventually cobbled
together in 1978 with a double finishing
off Lee’s parts and for the scene in which
Lee’s character dies, the filmmakers used
actual footage of his funeral. The cause of
death for Lee’s character also makes for a
morbid coincidence which sees him shot
when a prop gun is substituted for a real
one, uncannily similar to the death of his
son just 15 years later, who was shot by
a dummy bullet when filming a scene in
which his character was shot and killed.
LEE’S FUNERAL ON THE SILVER
SCREEN
Lee’s funeral was held on 25 July 1973
at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle where
pallbearers included George Lazenby,
Chuck Norris, Steve McQueen and James
Coburn. Lee was buried in the costume he
wore making his name in Enter the Dragon.
A separate ceremony held in Hong Kong
was attended by 25,000 people. In Game
of Death, Lee’s coffin can be seen making
its way down the aisle with press and fans
watching on from outside. The inscription
OCTOBER 2018
on his grave reads: “Bruce Lee, Nov 27
1940 - July 20 1973, Founder of Jeet Kune
Do, Your inspiration continues to guide us
toward our personal liberation.”
FAMOUS PALLBEARERS
GEORGE LAZENBY
On the day he collapsed, Lee met with
George Lazenby to discuss plans for a film
the pair intended to co-star in together.
Lazenby is most famous for his role as
James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret
Service. At the time, Lazenby was the
youngest actor to play James Bond at the
age of 29 and was also the only actor to
receive a Golden Globe nomination for
the role. Away from Bond, Lazenby was
involved in modeling for various adverts
and went on to star in films such as Return
of the Man from U.N.K.L.E and Universal
Soldier.
CHUCK NORRIS
Chuck Norris was a friend, sparring partner
and co-star of Lee’s, most notably in the
film The Way of the Dragon which saw the
two fight; many wanted the epic battle to
be a reality however it never happened as
a competitive bout. Norris was best known
for roles in action films such as Missing in
Action and Delta Force along with starring
in the TV series Walker: Texas Ranger.
After his acting heyday, Norris became
heavily involved in politics as part of the US
Republican party.
STEVE MCQUEEN
Steve McQueen was one of Bruce Lee’s
most high profile students in the art of
Jeet Kune Do, as well as being a close
personal friend. It was said by many that
Lee admired McQueen as a film star and
McQueen admired Lee as a martial artist.
Away from Lee, McQueen’s work needs no
introduction, starring in Hollywood classics
such as The Great Escape, Bullitt, The
Magnificent Seven and The Blob.
JAMES COBURN
James Coburn starred alongside Lee
in the film Circle of Iron, released after
Lee’s death in 1978, much like McQueen,
Coburn was a dedicated student of Lee.
Coburn starred in over 70 films ranging
from The Great Escape to Pixar animated
film Monsters Inc. During his time in the
military Coburn had been a radio presenter
on Texas army radio as well as narrating
US army training films made in Mainz,
Germany.
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