From the bustling streets of New York City , amidst the echoes of the Great Depression, emerged a creative force destined to leave an indelible mark on the world of comics and entertainment. On December 28, 1922, Stan Lee was born to Celia and Jack Lieber, a couple of Romanian Jewish descent, with Jack working as a dress cutter. Growing up in a modest household, Stan would not only imagine worlds beyond the tenement that contained his young life but also go on to create them. Among his siblings, his brother Larry Lieber would also tread a creative path, becoming a writer and artist. Stan Lee's legacy is unparalleled, as he co-created superheroes who leap from the page into the cultural mainstream, embodying the struggles and aspirations of generations.
Early Life and Career
Stan Lee's early years were marked by financial hardship but rich with imagination. He attended DeWitt Clinton high school in the Bronx, where the seeds of his future storytelling prowess were planted. Lee embarked on his path in the world of comics at Timely Comics—the precursor to Marvel Comics—with his first professional role in the industry coming in 1939.
His ascent in the industry was rapid, and by the time he was in his early 20s, he found himself as an interim editor. However, it was the creation of the Fantastic Four in 1961 that turned the tide for Lee and Marvel, bringing a new level of realism and complexity to superhero comics. The Fantastic Four's success was the first of many, as Lee went on to co-create a pantheon of beloved characters, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men.
Stan Lee's accolades are numerous, with one of the highlights being his induction as a Disney Legend in 2017, acknowledging his significant contribution to The Walt Disney Company. His personal life was as rich as his professional one, married for nearly seven decades to Joan, with whom he had two children. His personal interests extended beyond comics; he was known for his cameo roles, his charity work, and as a figure frequently at the center of fan conventions.
Stan Lee's passing in 2018 left both a void and a legacy. He is celebrated for his creative genius that transformed Marvel Comics and shaped the entire entertainment industry. His work goes beyond the printed page and continues to influence movies, television, and pop culture at large. Stan Lee stands as a true icon, not just for creating heroes with superpowers, but for inspiring the hero within all of his fans.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2021 | Writer | Upcoming | 8 | Previous | 184 | Actor | Previous | 131 | Starship Farragut Homecoming (Short) | Admiral McCann |
2017–2020 | Big Hero 6: The Series (TV Series) | Fred's Dad | Boss Awesome (voice) |
2019 | Madness in the Method | Stan |
2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Driver |
2019 | Captain Marvel | Stan Lee |
2019 | Avengers Assemble (TV Series) | Army General (voice) |
2012–2018 | Bad Days (TV Series) | Stan the Man (voice) |
2018 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Stan (voice) |
2018 | Venom | Dapper Dog Walker |
2018 | Spider-Man (Video Game) | Short Order Cook (voice) |
2017–2018 | Spider-Man (TV Series) | Stan | Cameraman (voice) |
2018 | Teen Titans GO! To the Movies | Stan Lee (voice) |
2018 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | Shrinking Car Owner |
2018 | Lego Spider-Man Series (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Bus Driver |
2018 | Guardians of the Galaxy (TV Series) | Stan (voice) |
2018 | Black Panther | Thirsty Gambler |
2017 | Runaways (TV Series) | Driver |
2017 | LEGO Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat | TV Short | Passenger (voice) |
2017 | The Reflection (TV Mini Series) | Narrator | Mr. Mystic (voice) |
2017 | Marvel Future Avengers (TV Series) | Hot Dog Vendor (English version, voice) |
2017 | Thor: Ragnarok | Barber (uncredited) |
2017 | The Gifted (TV Series) | Man Leaving Tex's Lounge (uncredited) |
2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy: Inferno (Music Video) | Stan Lee |
2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Gary |
2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming, NBA Finals: Watch the Game | Video | Old Man on Street (uncredited) |
2017 | Fresh Off the Boat (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Watcher Informant |
2002–2017 | The Simpsons (TV Series) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2017 | Deadpool: No Good Deed (Short) | Stan Lee (uncredited) |
2017 | Stan Lee's Lucky Man: The Bracelet Chronicles (TV Mini Series) | Stanley Doyle (voice) |
2017 | Con Man (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2017 | Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High Aka Vol. 2 | Narrator (as Peter Parker) |
2017 | The Concessionaires Must Die! | Grandpa Frakes |
2016 | God Woke (TV Series) | (voice) |
2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot (TV Mini Series) | Man in Photograph in Coulson's Box (uncredited) |
2016 | Doctor Strange | Bus Passenger |
2012–2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man (TV Series) | Stan | Stan the Principal | Stan the Janitor (voice) |
2016 | X-Men: Apocalypse | Stan Lee |
2016 | Captain America: Civil War | FedEx Driver |
2016 | Yoga Hosers | Dispatcher |
2016 | Deadpool | Strip Club DJ |
2015 | Ant-Man | Bartender |
2015 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Double Agent (TV Mini Series) | The Mastermind (uncredited) |
2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Stan Lee |
2015 | Hulk at the Office (Short) | Unknown |
2015 | American Dad! (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
2013–2015 | Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (TV Series) | Mayor Stan (voice) |
2015 | Agent Carter (TV Series) | Man on Bench |
2014 | The Marvel Experience | Stanley Leiber (voice) |
2014 | Big Hero 6 | Fred's Dad (voice) |
2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Xandarian Ladies' Man |
2014 | The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Video Game) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2014 | Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff (Video Game) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2014 | The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | Graduation Guest |
2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Smithsonian Guard |
2011–2014 | Avengers Assemble! (TV Series) | Future Tony | Future Tony Stark |
2014 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series) | Debonair Gentleman |
2014 | Stan Lee's Mighty 7 (TV Movie) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2013 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (TV Mini Series) | Hot Dog Vendor | Stan (voice) |
2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Stan Lee |
2013 | Video Game High School (TV Series) | Stan L33T | Old Man on the News |
2013 | Phineas and Ferb (TV Series) | NY Hotdog Vendor | Narrator (voice) |
2013 | Marvel Heroes (Video Game) | Agent Lee (voice) |
2013 | Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 | Narrator (uncredited) |
2013 | Mad (TV Series) | Papa Smurf | Bird Scientist | The Amazing Man-Spider Announcer (voice) |
2013 | Iron Man 3 | Pageant Judge |
2007–2013 | Robot Chicken (TV Series) | Stan Lee | Studio Executive | Angry Driver (voice) ... |
2013 | Martha's Key (Short) | Generalissimo |
2012 | How It Should Have Ended (TV Series) | School Librarian (voice) |
2012 | Fan Wars (TV Series) | The Generalissimo |
2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man (Video Game) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man | School Librarian |
2012 | The Avengers | Stan Lee |
2011 | Pizza Man | Stan Lee |
2011 | Chuck (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2009–2011 | The Super Hero Squad Show (TV Series) | Mayor of Super Hero City (voice) |
2011 | Eureka (TV Series) | Dr. (Generalissimo) Lee |
2011 | Captain America: The First Avenger | General (uncredited) |
2011 | Thor | Stan the Man |
2010 | They Spoke Out: American Voices Against the Holocaust (TV Series) | Narrator |
2010 | Nikita (TV Series) | Distinguished Bystander |
2010 | Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (Video Game) | Narrator (voice) |
2010 | Entourage (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2010 | Iron Man 2 | Larry King |
2010 | The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) | Stan Lee |
2010 | Stan Lee's Oscar Campaign (Short) | Unknown |
2010 | Black Panther (TV Mini Series) | General Wallace (voice) |
2009 | Marvel Super Hero Squad (Video Game) | Mayor of Super Hero City (voice) |
2009 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (Video Game) | Senator Lieber (voice) |
2009 | The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV Series) | Stan (voice) |
2008 | Devil's Run | Video | Storyteller |
2008 | The Incredible Hulk | Milwaukee Man Drinking From Bottle (uncredited) |
2008 | Iron Man | Hugh Hefner |
2007 | Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer | Stan Lee - Rejected Wedding Guest |
2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Man in Times Square |
2007 | Heroes (TV Series) | Bus Driver |
2007 | Mosaic | Video | Stan the Security Guard (voice) |
2006 | The Condor | Video | Grandfather (voice) |
2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand | Waterhose Man |
2005 | Fantastic Four | Willie Lumpkin |
2005 | Conflict (Short) | Trevor |
2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | Three Stooges Wedding Guest |
2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Man Dodging Debris |
2003 | Generation Jets (TV Series) | Dealer |
2003 | Spider-Man: The Case of the Sinister Speller (Video Game) | Narrator (voice) |
2003 | The Evolution of the X-Men | Video |
2003 | Spider-Man (TV Series) | Frank Elson (voice) |
2003 | Stripperella (TV Series) | Jerry (voice) |
2003 | Hulk | Security Guard |
2003 | Daredevil | Old Man at Crossing |
2003 | Parts of the Family | Video | Professor Peter Parker - Film Critic (uncredited) |
2002 | Spider-Man | Man in Fair (uncredited) |
2001 | Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro (Video Game) | Narrator (voice) |
2000 | The 7th Portal (TV Series) | Izayus (voice) |
2000 | The Adventures of Cinderella's Daughter | The Priest |
2000 | Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV | Prologue | Epilogue Narrator (voice, as Peter Parker) |
2000 | Spider-Man (Video Game) | Stan Lee (voice) |
2000 | X-Men | Hot Dog Vendor |
1999 | The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man | Video | Ride Announcer (voice) |
1998 | Spider-Man: The Animated Series (TV Series) | Stan Lee (voice) |
1997 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) | Cliff Walters (voice) |
1995 | Mallrats | Stan Lee |
1994 | Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (TV Series) | Stan Lee (voice) |
1994 | Jugular Wine: A Vampire Odyssey | Prof. Baker |
1990 | The Ambulance | Marvel Comics Editor |
1989 | Muppet Babies (TV Series) | Stan Lee (uncredited) |
1989 | The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (TV Movie) | Jury Foreman (uncredited) |
1981–1983 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
1982–1983 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
1973 | L'an 01 | Récitant | New York's Narrator (voice) |