Who Is Who : Diana Lee Inosanto

Diana Lee Inosanto (born May 29, 1966) is an American actress, stuntwoman, martial artist and film director, sometimes credited as D. Lee Inosanto. Inosanto was born in Torrance, California and was raised in her childhood years in Carson, California and later, Harbor City, California, where she attended Narbonne High School.

The writer-director-producer and co-star of the critically successful, and popular festival film, "THE SENSEI" grew up surrounded by a Who"s Who of the Martial World. In addition, D. Lee would work with Asian American theater companies, East West Players & Lodestone Theater Ensemble continuing to evolve as an actress and martial arts choreographer.

Description

• Born : May 29, 1966 (age 48)
• Other names : D. Lee Inosanto
• Occupation :
  
  
  • Actor,
  • Film director,
  • Stunt performer,
  • Martial Arts Teacher,
  • Martial Arts Choreographer

Reaching adulthood, Ms. Inosanto struggled as a young, single mom with an Autistic son. Eventually she met her husband Ron Balicki, one of her father's lead students, a former Deputy Sheriff turned Martial Arts Entrepreneur / Stunt Coordinator and now Producer. Through the years, Ms. Inosanto worked as a stunt-actress on film and TV shows like FACE OFF, WALKER TEXAS RANGER and BUFFY the VAMPIRE SLAYER doubling for actresses, Margaret Cho and Sarah Michelle Gellar. But eventually she tired of this kind of work, and taking her inspiration from her "Uncle Bruce" seized control as the creator of her own film projects.

Ms. Inosanto made the most of her stuntwoman situations to learn directly on set about the directing process by watching and absorbing the techniques, strategies, and philosophies exhibited by A-list directors, like Ang Lee, John Woo, Barry Sonnenfeld, Chris Columbus and Clint Eastwood and others she was privileged to just hang around and be there.

By the end of 2010, as an emerging director and writer on THE SENSEI, Inosanto would win awards and accolades at film festivals like LA Femme International, Hoboken International, Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest, San Francisco"s Frameline, Germany"s Verzaubert Film Festival and New York"s Newfest to name a few.

In order to make The Sensei a reality, Ms. Inosanto had to overcome many obstacles. School officials in Jefferson County refused her permission to film in their district, deeming the content of her film too controversial and subsequently resulting in the loss of one of the films major funders. To make matters worse, Diana Lee Inosanto would also have to endure threats to her and her family for risking to address the critical issues of racism, bullying and homophobia in her film.

However, Inosanto persistently refused to let intolerance hinder the development of her film and ultimately succeeded. So powerful was her message that the Asian American Justice Center will present Ms. Inosanto with the American Courage Award this October 6th, in Washington, D.C for her bravery and dedication to the cause of civil rights and use of incredible creative aptitude to deliver the message of advancing social justice.

Moving forward, Ms. Inosanto co-produced with her husband, Ron Balicki, the action thriller "SINNERS & SAINTS" starring Johnny Strong (Black Hawk Down), Oscar Nominee Tom Berenger (Inception), Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints), Method Man (The Wire) and Kim Coates (Black Hawk Down).

Ms. Inosanto has been accepted into the ALLIANCE OF WOMEN DIRECTORS, sharing membership with other notable women directors like Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) and Kimberely Peirce"s (Boys Don"t Cry). Diana Lee Inosanto is currently working on several projects in various stages of development.

Martial artist

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

Film career

Movies and television work includes :

• "I, Frankenstein" (2012) (Martial Arts Trainer - Aaron Eckhart / Socratis Otto)
• "Hirokin" (2010) (Assistant Stunt Coordinator)
• "Sinners & Saints The Movie" (2009) (Co-Producer) (Assistant Stunt Coordinator)
• "The Sensei" (2008) (Director) (Producer) (Actress)
• "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (2006) (Actress)
• "Rent" (2005) (Actress)
• "The Prodigy" (2006) (Actress) (Associate Producer)
• "The Vault" (2005) (Actress)
• "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (2004) (Fight Choreography)
• "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2003) (2004) (2005) TV Series (Stunts)
• "Hulk" (2003) (Actress)
• "Fist of Cheese" (2004) TV Series (Assistant Stunt Coordinator) (Associate Producer)
• "The Time Machine" (2002) (Actress)
• "On Sundays " - (Co Producer) (2002)
• "A Ribbon of Dreams" (2002) (Associate Producer)
• "Life Streams" (2000) (Actress) (Co Producer)
• "Modern Warriors" (2000) Herself
• "Blade" (2000) (Stunts)
• "Mystery Men" (1999) (Stunts)
• "Wild Wild West" (1999) (Stunts)
• "Red Corner" (1999) (Stunts)
• "The Patriot" (1998) (Stunts)
• "Face/Off" (1997) (Stunts)
• "The Roseanne Show" (1998) TV Series (Stunt Actress)
• "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1996) TV Series (Stunts)
• "Spy Game" (1997) TV Series (Stunts)
• "Barb Wire" (1996) (Stunts)
• "MTV New Edition Music Video "Hit Me Off" - (Stunts) (1996)
• "10-8: Officers on Duty" (2003) TV Series (Stunts)
• "Black Scorpion" (1999) (Stunts)
• "MADtv" (2001) (Actress)
• "The Last Man on Planet Earth" (1999) (Stunts)
• "Team Knight Rider" (1998) (Actress)
• "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1998) (Stunts)
• "Moonlighting" (1988) (Actress)

Theatre work

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.

Source : Wikipedia / dianaleeinosanto.