By Lucy Santiago
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Jason Michael Lee (born April 25, 1970) is an American actor, filmmaker, photographer, and former professional skateboarder. He is known for playing Earl Hickey in the television comedy series My Name Is Earl, for which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy TV series in 2005 and 2006 by The Golden Globes, and Dave in the live-action films, Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015).
He is also known for his roles in Kevin Smith films such as Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Jersey Girl (2004), Clerks II (2006), Cop Out (2010), and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019). Lee won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in Chasing Amy. His other notable film roles include starring in Enemy of the State, Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, Stealing Harvard, A Guy Thing and The Ballad of Jack and Rose. His voice acting credits include Syndrome in The Incredibles (2004), Bones in Monster House (2006) and the title character in Underdog (2007).
A former professional skateboarder, Lee is the co-founder and co-owner of Stereo Skateboards, founding the company in 1992 with fellow skateboarder Chris “Dune” Pastras. Since 1992, Stereo manufactures and distributes skateboard decks, equipment and apparel, as well as producing skate videos.
SKATEBOARDING CAREER
Lee was a professional skateboarder in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, he founded Stereo Sound Agency, known as Stereo Skateboards, with fellow skater Chris “Dune” Pastras. In 2003, after it had been defunct for a few years, the pair successfully revived the company. As of October 2013, Lee and Pastras remained on the professional “Classics” team roster.
Lee was featured in the skateboarding promotional video, Video Days (1991), filmed for the skateboarding company Blind Skateboards. In 2004, Lee’s skateboarding was featured in Way Out East!, a film produced by Stereo Skateboards.
In August 2012, Lee was also featured in a brief video on the skateboard website The Berrics entitled “Jason Lee decided to come to the park.”
In August 2012, Lee participated in the ninth annual Stand-Up for Skateparks Event, which he chaired with Tony Hawk. The event is held annually by the Tony Hawk Charitable Foundation and seeks to “help create free, quality public skateparks for youth in low-income communities.”
In October that same year, a video was released by the Keep A Breast Foundation, featuring various skateboarding identities, including Lee, together with Pastras. The video, contributing to the Foundation’s aim to prevent and raise awareness of breast cancer, promotes the “I Love Boobies” bracelet. It also features Clint Peterson (Stereo) and Giovanni Reda (WESC), who are both teammates of Lee.
Lee later worked with Tony Hawk when he lent his voice and likeness to Tony Hawk’s Project 8 to become a playable character. Lee then voiced Coach Frank, a character created during the development of Stereo, in video game Skate 3.
Professional skateboarder and owner of the Girl and Lakai Limited Footwear skateboard brands Mike Carroll has cited Lee as one of his skating influences.
Lee has been particularly cited for his 360 flips, which even the trick’s inventor, Rodney Mullen, credits him with stylizing and popularizing.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Ella Fitzgerald (singer) –
- Melissa Hayden (ballerina) –
- Al Pacino (actor) –
- Talia Shire (actress) –
- Hank Azaria (actor) –
- Renee Zellweger (actress) –
- Jason Lee (actor) –
Died
- Ginger Rogers (dancer & actress) –
- Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (rap artist) –
- Bobby “Boris” Pickett (singer best known for the Billboard hit Monster Mash) –
- Bea Arthur (actress) –
- Harry Belafonte (singer, actor, and activist) –
Events
- New York became first state to require auto license plates–
- The first guide dog, Buddy, was presented to Morris Frank–
- First circus telecast–
- United Negro College Fund was incorporated–
- The board game Scrabble trademark was registered–
- St. Lawrence Seaway completed. (It was dedicated on June 26.)–
- “Purple People Bridge” reopened, Cincinnati–
- A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal killing more than 8,000 people–
Weather
- New York City had 3 inches of snow–
- 118 degrees F, Volcano Springs, CA–
- In Michigan, a 70 mph wind picked up a 6-pound Chihuahua and blew her out of sight–
- The temperature in Concord, New Hampshire, reached 90 degrees setting a new state record for this date–
- A large tornado outbreak (about 362 twisters) began that lasted into April 28 and affected eastern U.S. and southern Canada–
COURTESY www.almanac.com
