One of the most frequently asked questions by martial arts lovers visiting Seattle is “Where is Bruce Lee buried?” The simple answer is Lake View Cemetery in Seattle.
The more complicated answer is that Bruce Lee’s gravesite is next to where his son, Brandon Lee, is buried, both of whom met an untimely death.
Neither final resting place was easy to find 10 years ago, despite it being listed as a Seattle tourist attraction, which is why I originally wrote out these directions. Today, the Bruce Lee grave site is a pin on Google Maps, and very easy for any fan of Bruce Lee to find, especially if you know what the gravestone looks like.
But first, the backstory of why you would even want to visit the grave of Bruce Lee in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, just northeast of the Space Needle and Downtown Seattle, and north of Volunteer Park.
Who was Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was the founder of Jeet Kune Do (a form of Kung Fu), an iconic figure in the martial artist community and considered the father of modern martial arts, and an actor known for films like “Enter the Dragon” and “Fist of Fury,” and yes, even the “Green Hornet.”
He was born in San Francisco to immigrant parents, raised in Hong Kong, and later lived with his wife Linda Emery in Seattle, where they raised their two children– Brandon and Shannon Lee- and where Lee had his martial arts studio.
Why look for Bruce Lee’s grave?
I’m lucky to have friends who are pretty much game for anything. One morning I turned to my friend Nicole as our kids ran around the Volunteer Park playground, right next to Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, WA. I asked her if she wanted to wander over to the adjoining cemetery to find Bruce Lee’s grave. She didn’t bat an eye and said yes.
Two moms with three kids wandering around gravestones? Nothing weird about that. Grave hunting is just one of the many things to do in Seattle with Kids after all.
Cars were pulling into Lakeview Cemetery at a sporadic rate that morning. Although a funeral was being set up, these cars were here for something else. They were looking for Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee’s gravestones. Just like us.
Finding Bruce Lee’s Grave
Honestly, we really had nothing to go on to start our search for Bruce Lee’s gravesite back then. I figured there would be a bunch of flowers, but given that it was the holiday season, there were flowers everywhere.
We found a few pictures via our phones of Bruce Lee’s grave, so we knew what the gravestone looked like at least. Still, we couldn’t find it. We even looked up directions!
Map and Directions to Bruce Lee’s Grave
I guess we aren’t the only ones to get lost. After a few sites I finally found directions that made sense. We had come in the wrong entrance, but at least we finally had a few monuments and a flagpole to go by.
This roundabout way of finding a celebrity grave wouldn’t last long though as technology got smarter, and the grave of Bruce Lee made its way to the top celebrity gravesite lists.
Where is Bruce Lee buried?
Lake View Cemetery: Bruce Lee Grave Details
- Address: 1548 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
- Hours: 9am to dusk daily, closing 4:15pm (winter), 6pm (spring), 8pm (summer)
- Note: This is not an amusement park. It is a cemetery. No picnic tables, nothing.
Most cemeteries don’t come with directions or signs pointing to the local celebrity graves. Kurt Cobain’s gravesite is in Lake View Cemetery, but they are very careful not to advertise exactly where he’s located. If they did, Nirvana fans would be camped out next to Kurt Cobain’s gravestone for weeks at a time.
How to Find the Grave of Bruce Lee
Recently, I went back to show my husband the grave of Bruce and Brandon Lee. He was a huge fan of the movie “The Crow,” which starred Brandon Lee, but unfortunately Brandon Lee died while filming this same movie.
We drove through the entrance, and it was much easier to find the gravesite as you enter the front gates of Lake View Cemetery on 15th Avenue E. You simply drive in, and at the first fork you come to on the road you go left. Take the next right you come to and then another left up the hill.
As you go up the hill you will see a circle drive, and to the right is Brandon Lee and Bruce Lee’s grave. Do NOT park near their grave. If you take the circle around, you will find spots to pull over that are out of the way, but still a very short walk to the gravesite so you can pay your respects.
While there was no sidewalk or guardrails a few years back, there is now a nice, accessible path down to the gravesites, as well as handrails for people to hold onto if they need a little assistance as they walk.
This new set up makes it easier to find the final resting place of Bruce Lee, as well as honor his memory by allowing people to respectfully approach his grave without tromping through the grass.
Exact Directions to Bruce Lee’s Grave area in Lakeview Cemetery
From Volunteer Park
- Start at the Volunteer Park Playground
- Head out of the park and go left down 15th Avenue East
- Walk into the cemetery entrance on your left. Walk straight up the hill. Respectfully cut through the grass. Do not stick to the path.
- When you are at the top of the hill you will be standing on a path/road. You will see a very large stone cross in front of you and a flagpole.
- Turn around and look at Lake Washington.
- Directly in front of you is a coral colored gravestone and a black gravestone. These are Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee. There is a very nice bench to sit on and meditate on both men’s amazing, yet short lives.
From the Lake View Cemetery Entrance
- Enter the cemetery
- Slight left at the fork
- Take the first right turn
- Take the first right you come to on the road, then the second from the right road up the hill
- Bruce Lee’s grave is on the right.
What does Bruce Lee’s grave say?
Lee’s gravestone includes a picture of Bruce Lee, his name written in English and Chinese, plus “Founder of Jeet Kune Do.”
Below the red headstone you will find a black stone in the shape of an book with a yin and yang symbol with Chinese writing and an inscription that says “Your inspiration continues to guide us toward our personal liberation.”
What does Brandon Lee’s grave say?
The passage below was supposed to be on Brandon Lee’s wedding invitation to Eliza Hutton. Sadly, Brandon died before he and Eliza could get married.
“Death is always on the way, but the fact that you don’t know when it will arrive seems to take away from the finiteness of life. It’s that terrible precision that we hate so much. But because we don’t know, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that’s so deeply a part of your being that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless.”
― Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky
Bruce Lee Grace FAQ
Why did they bury Bruce Lee in Seattle?
Lee’s remains were interred in Seattle because that was where he and his family had been most happy. Lee had gone to school in Capital Hill at the Edison Technical College (now Seattle Central College in Capitol Hill), and the city is where he began to teach martial arts and started the Jun Fan Martial Arts Institute.
Is Bruce Lee buried or cremated?
Bruce Lee was cremated and his remains are buried in Seattle.
Where are the remains of Bruce Lee?
Bruce lee is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.
Are Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix buried in the same cemetery?
No, Jimi Hendrix is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Renton, WA. In 2002, a new gazebo style memorial was erected and Hendrix was moved. His mother, father and grandmother were also placed to rest there. His half sister, Janie, will join the family crypt when she passes as well.
Can you visit Bruce Lee’s grave?
Yes, Lakeview Cemetery is open to the public, but please, always be respectful.
Where is Bruce Lee’s grave located?
Bruce Lee’s grave is located in Lake View Cemetery, 1554 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
How to visit Bruce Lee’s grave
The public is free to enter Lake View Cemetery to visit Bruce Lee’s grave. You must stay on the paths, not bother other guests, especially if a service is happening, and remain respectful of all of the graves, statues and crypts. Be mindful of NO PARKING signs as well if you drive in.
Is Bruce Lee really buried in Seattle?
Yes, Bruce Lee really is buried in Seattle in the state of Washington. Bruce Lee is NOT buried in Hong Kong, but there are memorials around the globe to Lee, including statues in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Australia, and the largest 18-meter-height statue in Bruce Lee Paradise, in Shunde, Foshan City, China.
There are also murals of Bruce Lee across the globe, many unsanctioned by the family, but still appreciated by fans of Kung Fu.
Can I visit Bruce Lee’s grave?
Yes, you can visit both Bruce Lee’s grave and his son, Brandon Lee’s grave.
Why is Bruce Lee’s grave in Seattle?
Although Bruce Lee died in Hong Kong, his family always thought of Seattle as their true home. It is where he met his wife Linda, studied, and began teaching local students. It is also where Linda said life was simple for the family of four. The family still thinks of it as their true home.
What is the real cause of death of Bruce Lee?
Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973 (age 32) from a brain edema, which they think was brought on by an allergic reaction to prescription painkillers.
Why is Bruce Lee so famous even after his death?
According to Reuters, Lee was not only known for his roles in movies and television, both in the USA and Hong Kong, but also for breaking racial barriers, helping erase stereotypes and his contributions in such areas as mixed martial arts, fitness, health and a philosophy that recognized the commonality of all humanity.
How many kids did Bruce Lee have?
Bruce Lee had two children– Brandon Lee (born in 1965, died 1993) and Shannon Lee (born in 1969).
What happened to Bruce Lee’s family after he died and what are they doing today?
Bruce Lee was survived by his wife and two children.
- Linda Lee Cadwell: Bruce Lee’s widow is a retired American teacher and writer. She wrote the Bruce Lee biography, “Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew,” and founded the Bruce Lee foundation, which continues to teach Bruce Lee’s martial arts philosophy.
- Brandon Lee: Sadly, Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee died in 1993 (age 28) after being shot with a prop gun on the set of the movie “The Crow.” He’d been an actor in both Hong Kong and the USA, but his big break came when get got the lead on “The Crow,” a film that was praised by critics and audiences alike.
- Shannon Emery Lee: Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon is an actress and producer. She also heads up the Bruce Lee Foundation as president and has produced several projects focused on Bruce Lee’s life and ideas Bruce Lee had while still alive in both the USA and Hong Kong.
Was Bruce Lee’s death ever investigated as a homicide?
No, Bruce Lee’s death was not investigated as a homicide. The official cause of death was listed as a reaction to medication, and there was no evidence of foul play.
Who designed Bruce Lee’s gravestone?
Bruce Lee’s gravestone was designed by his brother, Robert Lee.
Is Bruce Lee’s grave a popular tourist destination?
Yes, Bruce Lee’s grave is a popular tourist destination and on celebrity gravesite lists. Many fans visit it every year to pay their respects to the martial arts icon.
Are there any special traditions or customs associated with visiting Bruce Lee’s grave?
Visitors to Bruce Lee’s grave often leave small gifts or offerings, such as incense, flowers, or martial arts tokens, as a sign of respect and appreciation for his legacy. While some find this controversial, others find solace in the practice of leaving a gift.
Headed to Seattle, Washington?
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Interesting Story – there are so many in cemeteries, aren’t there? I had forgotten that his son had died as well.
Was the Big cross a monument to someone as well?
~Becca
The cross was for the Ferry family. There were about 8 of them surrounding the cross. I believe a few in-laws as well.
That’s definitely a different way to spend you afternoon. I wouldn’t have thought it would be so hard to find somebody in a cemetery (I haven’t spent a lot of time in them), but I guess it makes sense to keep the location of some people’s graves a secret. On the other hand, if you really want it to be a secret, don’t put your name and picture on the grave marker.
Definitely an interesting way to spend your afternoon! 🙂 Now I’m amazed that you were able to provide directions. If I had been wandering around until I eventually stumbled upon the gravesite then I would be lucky to find my way back out let alone be able to give step by step directions on how to get there.
I find cemeteries very interesting too. And the kids always enjoy being outdoors. Not a bad day!
My husband and I once wasted an entire afternoon aimlessly wandering the Pere Lachaise in Paris looking for Jim Morrison’s grave (his idea, not mine!)
My kids think looking for people’s graves is a very weird way to spend a day, but I think it is fascinating! Good thing you were there, or those other poor people would have never made it.
What a fun hunt! Wish I could have come along. I was thrilled when I learned this past summer that you enjoy cemeteries as much as I do. There are so many stories to tell. Why not provide a link on your page to take people to the one in Melvin Village?
What a great day outing! Cemeteries are very interesting places. The history and knowing each headstone marks a life and it’s own story. Quite interesting. I actually spent a couple of hours at the oldest cemetery in New Orleans when I visited in May. I was intrigued by the above ground burials.