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Cousin of Malcolm D. Lee.

Big New York Knicks fan: Has courtside seats for all games. Partially responsible for the "off colored" baseball caps, as he started wearing a red Yankees cap during the 1996 World Series.

His production company is 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks.

Son of Bill Lee.

Brother of Joie Lee, Cinque Lee and David Lee.

Friend of Soledad O'Brien.

After the Columbine high school shootings Spike said that National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston should be shot. Heston replied that if Spike wanted to take a shot at him he should go ahead and try it. Lee later apologized for the comments.

Serves as a master teacher of film at the Tisch School of the Arts and Harvard University.

Graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1982.

Graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979.

Children, with Tonya Lewis Lee, Satchel (b. 1994) and Jackson (b. 1997).

Dated model Veronica Webb.

His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, an alumna of Spelman College (class of 1929), sent him to Morehouse College, the historically black all-male institution affiliated with the all-female Spelman College.

His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, helped fund his first full-length feature film, She's Gotta Have It (1986).

He has never learned how to drive an automobile.

He and producer/director Monty Ross are frequent collaborators and were classmates and graduates of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Between the making of his award-winning student short, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), and his debut feature, She's Gotta Have It (1986), Lee attempted to make a featured called "Messenger". Over $100,000 was raised, but the film never materialized.

The name of his production company, "40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks", came from an unfulfilled promise that many politicians made to freed slaves after the Civil War.

Was a Visiting Lecturer in Afro-American Studies and Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University in the early 1990s.

Was featured in numerous Nike campaigns in the early '90s

Is now (2002) the Artistic Director of the graduate division of the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The position gives Lee an advisory position, allowing him to teach and advise third year students, as well as aid with industry networking.

Vied for the director's seat on Ali (2001). Says that he knew he wouldn't get the job after speaking to the movie's star, Will Smith (one of the many financiers on Lee's Get on the Bus (1996)), who wanted Lee to make a film with "a broader appeal".

Has been trying for more than ten years to direct his dream project: a film about the life and times of Jackie Robinson. Says that he personally promised to Robinson's widow, Rachel Isum, to make the film. Another as-of-yet (2003) project he has often spoke of but has yet to do is a film on the boxing match between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling.

Was voted the 48th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Often casts real-life family members in his films. In Do the Right Thing (1989) , for example, he cast Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (real-life husband and wife), himself and Joie Lee (real-life siblings), and Danny Aiello and Rick Aiello (real-life father and son). Other films he does this in include School Daze (1988), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991) and Malcolm X (1992).

Grandson of Zimmie Shelton, who helped finance his featurette, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983). She received a producing credit on the film, which went on to win a Merit Award at the Student Academy Awards.

Is a fan of Michael Moore's films. Bowling for Columbine (2002) was his favorite film of 2002.

Is a huge Arsenal fan and personal friend of team captain Thierry Henry. Is often known to wear Arsenal jerseys while on set.

When Norman Jewison was originally hired to direct Malcolm X (1992), Lee met with him and convinced him he needed to "sit this one out". Feeling that only a black director was qualified and would bring the necessary perspective, Lee then stepped in as director with Jewison's blessing.

One of Lee's classmate at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts was director Ang Lee. The Taiwan-born Lee worked on the crew of Spike Lee's thesis film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983).

Made the introduction of the song "The Church" on De La Soul's album "The Grind Date".

The Lees bought their 9,800-square-foot Italian- palazzo-style home from Jasper Johns in 1998; it was originally built for a Vanderbilt.

Is a huge Arsenal fan and personal friend of team ex-captain Theirry Henry, who now plays for FC Barcelona. Is often known to wear Arsenal Jersey's while on set.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.

Is a big fan of musicals from Hollywood's Golden Age.

His favorite movie is The Deer Hunter. It is the movie that inspired him to make movies and be a director.

Inside Man 2 (2010) (announced)

Untitled Michael Jordan Documentary (2009) (pre-production)

Passing Strange (2009) (TV) (pre-production)

Game Day with Kobe (2008) (TV) (pre-production)

Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

M.O.N.Y. (2008) (TV)

Lovers & Haters (2007)

Shark (1 episode, 2006)

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2 episodes, 2006)

Inside Man (2006)

All the Invisible Children (2005) (segment "Jesus Children of America")

Jesus Children of America (2005)

Miracle's Boys (2 episodes, 2005)

Sucker Free City (2004) (TV)

She Hate Me (2004)

25th Hour (2002)

Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002) (segment "We Wuz Robbed")

Jim Brown: All American (2002) (TV)

Come Rain or Come Shine (2001)

The Concert for New York City (2001) (TV) (segment "Come Rain or Come Shine")

A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) (TV)

The Making of Bamboozled (2001) (V)

Bamboozled (2000)

The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)

And Ya Don't Stop: Hip Hop's Greatest Videos, Vol. 1 (2000) (V) (video "Fight the Power")

Summer of Sam (1999)

Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo (1999) (TV)

Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia (1998) (TV)

Freak (1998) (TV)

He Got Game (1998)

4 Little Girls (1997)

Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (1997) (V) (video "They Don't Care About Us")

Get on the Bus (1996)

Girl 6 (1996)

Lumière et compagnie (1995)

Clockers (1995)

Crooklyn (1994)

Malcolm X (1992)

Jungle Fever (1991)

Mo' Better Blues (1990)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

School Daze (1988)

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983)

Sarah (1981)

The Answer (1980)

Last Hustle in Brooklyn (1977)

Academy Awards, USA

1998 Nominated Oscar Best Documentary, Features for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

1990 Nominated Oscar Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Acapulco Black Film Festival

1999 Nominated Black Film Award Best Director for: He Got Game (1998) Best Screenplay for: He Got Game (1998)

1998 Nominated Black Film Award Best Director for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

American Black Film Festival

2004 Won Innovator Award

Atlanta Film Festival

2005 - Ossie Davis Award

BAFTA Awards

2002 Won Special Award

BET Comedy Awards

2005 Nominated BET Comedy Award Outstanding Directing for a Theatrical Film for: She Hate Me (2004) Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film for: She Hate Me (2004)

Berlin International Film Festival

2003 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: 25th Hour (2002)

2001 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Bamboozled (2000)

1997 Won Special Mention for: Get on the Bus (1996) For the examplary ensemble acting of the whole team.

Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Get on the Bus (1996)

1993 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear for: Malcolm X (1992)

Black Movie Awards

2006 Won Black Movie Award Best Director for: Inside Man (2006)

Black Reel Awards

2007 Won Black Reel Best Director for: Inside Man (2006)

2006 Nominated Black Reel Best Director - Television for: "Miracle's Boys" (2005) Best Director - Television for: Sucker Free City (2004) (TV)

2005 Nominated Black Reel Best Director for: She Hate Me (2004) Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted for: She Hate Me (2004)

2003 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Director for: 25th Hour (2002)

2002 Nominated Black Reel Network/Cable - Best Director for: A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) (TV)

2001 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Director for: Bamboozled (2000)

Theatrical - Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) for: Bamboozled (2000)

2000 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Director for: Summer of Sam (1999)

Theatrical - Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) for: Summer of Sam (1999)

Cannes Film Festival

1991 Won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention for: Jungle Fever (1991) Nominated Golden Palm for: Jungle Fever (1991)

1989 Nominated Golden Palm for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

1986 Won Award of the Youth Foreign Film for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

1993 Won CFCA Award Best Director for: Malcolm X (1992)

1990 Won CFCA Award Best Director for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Cinequest San Jose Film Festival

2001 - Maverick Tribute Award

César Awards, France

2003 - Honorary César

Emmy Awards

2007 Won Emmy Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006) Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

1998 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Non-Fiction Special for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

Empire Awards, UK

1999 - Inspiration Award

Golden Globes, USA

1990 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture for: Do the Right Thing (1989) Best Screenplay - Motion Picture for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Gotham Awards

1992 Won Filmmaker Award

Image Awards

2007 Won Image Award Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie - Comedy or Drama for: Inside Man (2006)

Independent Spirit Awards

2001 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature for: Love & Basketball (2000)

1987 Won Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

International Documentary Association

1998 Nominated IDA Award Feature Documentaries for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2003 - Lifetime Achievement Award

Locarno International Film Festival

1983 Won Ernest Artaria Award for: Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) Tied with Sargento Getúlio (1983).

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

1989 Won LAFCA Award Best Director for: Do the Right Thing (1989)

1986 Won New Generation Award for: She's Gotta Have It (1986)

MTV Movie Awards

2006 - Silver Bucket of Excellence Award

Satellite Awards

1998 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Documentary Film for: 4 Little Girls (1997)

Student Academy Awards, USA

1983 Won Merit Award Dramatic for: Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) New York University.

Valladolid International Film Festival

1999 Nominated Golden Spike for: Summer of Sam (1999)

Venice Film Festival

2006 Won Human Rights Film Network Award for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

Venice Horizons Documentary Award for: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (2006)

1995 Nominated Golden Lion for: Clockers (1995)