Phoebe Lee Chiu-yuen, the elder sister of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, has passed away at the age of 88.
The news was announced by the Bruce Lee Club through a Facebook statement on Monday, which said Lee died at her home in San Francisco on June 8.
In the statement, the organisation expressed deep sorrow over the loss of its honorary chairperson and conveyed the announcement on behalf of club chairman Robert Lee, Bruce Lee’s younger brother.
“With profound sadness, we announce that Phoebe Lee Chiu-yuen, the eldest daughter of Lee Hoi-chuen, elder sister of Bruce Lee and honorary chairperson of our association, passed away at her home in San Francisco on June 8 at the age of 88,” the statement said.
The family is currently making funeral arrangements and has requested privacy as they mourn her passing. Details regarding memorial services and funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, also paid tribute to her aunt on Instagram, sharing photographs of Phoebe Lee during her younger years alongside the late martial arts icon.
Phoebe was one of Bruce Lee’s four siblings. The legendary actor and martial artist had two sisters, Phoebe Lee Chiu-yuen and Agnes Lee Chiu-fung, as well as an older brother, Peter Lee Chung-sum, and younger brother, Robert Lee Jun-fai.
In a 2013 appearance in Hong Kong for a programme commemorating Bruce Lee’s legacy, Phoebe shared memories of her famous brother’s childhood.
She described Bruce as mischievous and stubborn as a young boy, revealing that their father was initially against him learning martial arts. However, she said Bruce’s extraordinary natural talent eventually became impossible to ignore.
Bruce Lee remains one of the most influential martial artists and cultural icons in history, with his legacy continuing to inspire generations around the world.
Phoebe’s passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences from fans and admirers of the Lee family across social media.
