Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels

Director, Precious / The Butler

Lee Daniels is an Academy Award® nominated filmmaker whose work is trademarked by authenticity and candor. Daniels’ most recent film THE DELIVERANCE debuted on Netflix on August 30th and quickly became the #1 Top Movie on Netflix in the U.

S. and remained on the top ten list over three weeks after releasing. Daniels wrote, directed and produced the faith-based horror film inspired by the true story of a family in Indiana that discovers strange, demonic occurrences in their home. It stars Glenn Close, Mo’Nique, Andra Day, and Aunjanue Ellis.

In 2001, Daniels founded Lee Daniels Entertainment, a full-service production company that is home to inclusive storytelling and serves as a platform for diverse and underrepresented voices to create authentic and original content. LDE made its feature film debut with MONSTER’S BALL, making Daniels the first African American producer of an Academy Award®-winning and nominated film. He is best known for his Academy Award®-winning film PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE, which was nominated for six Academy Awards®, including nominations for Daniels in the categories of “Achievement in Directing” and “Best Motion Picture of the Year.

” In 2013, he released the critically acclaimed box office smash LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, that tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), an African American butler who served at the White House during seven presidential administrations between 1957 and 1986.

In February 2021, Daniels’ THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY, was released by Hulu. A drama based around the court case of famed singer Billie Holiday (Andra Day) after she was arrested at her apartment for the possession of narcotics, Daniels both directed and produced the film. Daniels’ work with Andra on the film yielded her a Golden Globe Award® for “Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama” and a Best Actress Academy Award® nomination.

In addition to his work on the big screen, Daniels created the hit television series EMPIRE, where he wrote and directed the pilot and served as an executive producer on the series until its season six finale in April 2020. The ground-breaking drama premiered in January 2015 and broke rating records during its first season.

In May 2021, Daniels signed a new multi-year overall deal with 20th Television, extending his previous deal with the studio that began in 2014. He continues to create, develop, write, direct and supervise new projects under his Lee Daniels Entertainment banner. His recent projects include the critically acclaimed hit series THE WONDER YEARS, MS. PAT. Following the success of the Grammy-Award® winning soundtrack of THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY, Daniels unveiled Lee Daniels Music, a global joint venture with Warner Recorded Music that encompasses recorded music projects, including soundtracks, as well as artist signings.

In late 2022, Daniels expanded into theater as the producer of the critically acclaimed Broadway comedy, AIN’T NO MO’. Written by, and starring, Jordan E. Cooper, the youngest American playwright in Broadway history, AIN’T NO MO’ dared to ask the incendiary question, ‘What if the U.

S. government offered Black Americans one-way plane tickets to Africa?’ The answer came in the form of an outrageous and high-octane comedy about being Black in today’s America. AIN’T NO MO’ received six Tony nominations for Best Play, Best Direction, Featured Actor, Featured Actress, Costume Design and Sound Design.

Throughout his career, Daniels has been a trailblazer, using his platform to amplify underrepresented voices and shed light on pressing societal issues. He sits on numerous boards, including that of Ghetto Film School, a nonprofit that helps to develop the next generation of great American storytellers. He is also a longtime LGBTQIA activist, as well as a strong supporter of many charitable organizations.

See Lee Daniels in the full Storytellers directory

Lee Daniels in the Storytelling360 Library