Diana Lee Inosanto

Diana Lee Inosanto (born May 29, 1966) is an American actress, stuntwoman, and martial artist.[1] She has also written and directed the film The Sensei (2008),[2] as well as having written a children's book titled The Curious Mind of Sebastian in 2020.[3]

Diana Lee Inosanto
Diana Lee Inosanto in 2008
Born (1966-05-29) May 29, 1966
Torrance, California
Other namesD. Lee Inosanto
Occupation
Spouse(s)Ron Balicki (m. 1995)
Children2
Parent(s)
Websitedianaleeinosanto.com

Life and career

Inosanto was born in Torrance, California and was raised in Carson, California and later, Harbor City, California, where she attended Narbonne High School. Her father is Dan Inosanto and she is married to fellow martial artist Ron Balicki.

Martial arts

Inosanto grew up surrounded by the martial arts world, studying many forms, including Jeet Kune Do and Eskrima, which she learned from her father, Dan Inosanto, a student of Jeet Kune Do founder Bruce Lee, who was also her godfather.[4] She has appeared on the cover of numerous martial arts magazines, including Black Belt Magazine, Martial Arts, Inside Karate, Self Defense, and Inside Kung Fu. She was named Woman of the Year by Black Belt Magazine in 2009.

Film and television

Apart from doing stunt work and choreography in numerous films and television productions, Inosanto has also acted in a number of movies and series. Her directorial debut, The Sensei, was released in 2008.[2]

In 2020, Inosanto appeared in one episode of the second season of Disney's The Mandalorian, playing the role of Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth.[5]

Theatre

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.

Writing

In 2020, Inosanto published her first book, the children's story The Curious Mind of Sebastian.[3] The same year, she also contributed a foreword to the Fiaz Rafiq book Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend.[6]

Selected filmography
Beach photoshoot, 2004

References
  1. "The Sensei" profiled by Jane Mee Wong in Northwest Asian Weekly
  2. "A Different Kind of Martial Arts Film: D. Lee Inosanto's 'The Sensei' battles prejudice and homophobia in 1980s small town in Colorado". asianweek.com. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  3. "Adventure Theatre honors API Heritage Month with streaming special events". dcmetrotheaterarts.com. May 13, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  4. Bruce Lee - Die Faust Hollywoods, documentary by Annette Baumeister in the series Too Young To Die, ZDF / Arte, Germany 2015
  5. "Who Plays The Magistrate In The Mandalorian? Bruce Lee Connection Explained". screenrant.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. "Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend". bookdepository.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  7. "THE SENSEI—The Evening Class Interview With Diana Lee Inosanto". theeveningclass.blogspot.com. May 24, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
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