Happy 93rd Birthday to Stan Lee ‘Excelsior!
Let us take a moment today to honor the man responsible for bringing the joy of Spider-Man as well as many other Marvel characters into our lives, Stan Lee. Today is his 93rd Birthday. Check out all the details on what Stan Lee has brought to us during his lifetime below, and let us know your thoughts AFTER THE JUMP!
(Source: imdb)
Stan Lee was born on December 28, 1922 in New York City, New York, USA as Stanley Martin Lieber. He is a writer and producer, known for Iron Man (2008), Spider-Man (2002) and Iron Man Three (2013). He has been married to Joan Lee since December 5, 1947. They have two children.
Spouse (1)
Joan Lee (5 December 1947 – present) (2 children)
Trade Mark (14)
Often narrated animated series featuring his Marvel Comics characters
Often named his characters in alliterate patterns like Peter Parker and
Often named his characters in alliterate patterns like Peter Parker and
SueStorm to help remember their names
Wears signature dark sunglasses
Often has cameos in the films based on his comics
Often refers to faithful fans as “true believers.”
Closed most fan letters or personal contributions by using his trademark catchphrase “‘Nuff said”
Stories are frequently set in New York City
Characters are often ordinary individuals caught up in extraordinary circumstances
Characters are often highly intelligent and work as scientists
Distinctive upbeat manner and style of speaking
Often uses superhero stories as metaphors for social issues, e.g., the X-Men were representative of discrimination
Unusually for comic book heroes, his characters almost never wear capes
Catchphrase: Excelsior!
Grey moustacheHe is credited as creating the Marvel Comics characters in the 1960s which introduced more complex characterizations for super-heroes. He also is credited for popularizing continuity to give the various series a sense of narrative flow and an interrelated common world for the characters. However, since the “plot first” writing method he used meant that the artists he collaborated with, especially Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, served as essentially co-writers, the matter who truly deserves the credit for the creations from such collaborations is a matter of vigorous debate.
Often refers to faithful fans as “true believers.”
Closed most fan letters or personal contributions by using his trademark catchphrase “‘Nuff said”
Stories are frequently set in New York City
Characters are often ordinary individuals caught up in extraordinary circumstances
Characters are often highly intelligent and work as scientists
Distinctive upbeat manner and style of speaking
Often uses superhero stories as metaphors for social issues, e.g., the X-Men were representative of discrimination
Unusually for comic book heroes, his characters almost never wear capes
Catchphrase: Excelsior!
Grey moustacheHe is credited as creating the Marvel Comics characters in the 1960s which introduced more complex characterizations for super-heroes. He also is credited for popularizing continuity to give the various series a sense of narrative flow and an interrelated common world for the characters. However, since the “plot first” writing method he used meant that the artists he collaborated with, especially Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, served as essentially co-writers, the matter who truly deserves the credit for the creations from such collaborations is a matter of vigorous debate.
Apart from his participation in the creation of the classic Marvel Comics characters, he also helped weaken censorship in the mainstream comics field. This happened when, after a formal request by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, he decided to do a story about the problem of drug abuse. The story he wrote in 1971 for “The Amazing Spider-Man” concerned Peter Parker’s friend Harry Osborne having a bad trip on LSD and nearly dying from it. The Comics Code Authority declared that they would not give their seal of approval to the three-issue arc on the grounds that the code, which was notorious for being draconian, would not allow the depiction of drug use even when it is portrayed negatively. Confident that the original government request would give him credibility and with the support of his publisher, Martin Goodman, Lee decided to defy the CCA and published the story as is without the seal and received healthy sales and a positive public reaction for his efforts in portraying the social problem. Soon after, the CCA changed their rules to allow for anti-drug messages in comics.
Brother of Larry Lieber and first cousin of Mel Stuart.
Brother of Larry Lieber and first cousin of Mel Stuart.
Disliked the 1970s live-action Spider-Man television series (for which he was a script consultant), deeming it “too juvenile”. He also felt that Spider-Man was being treated on the show as a “cardboard character”.
He ended his weekly “Stan’s Soapbox” column (which appeared in every Marvel comic book) with the phrase “Excelsior!”.
Daughter is model/actress Joan Celia J.C. Lee (b. 1950). His other daughter, Jan Lee, died shortly after birth (1953).
He first began to work on comics in 1941 on the third issue of Captain America.
He ended his weekly “Stan’s Soapbox” column (which appeared in every Marvel comic book) with the phrase “Excelsior!”.
Daughter is model/actress Joan Celia J.C. Lee (b. 1950). His other daughter, Jan Lee, died shortly after birth (1953).
He first began to work on comics in 1941 on the third issue of Captain America.
His three most famous comic book creations are: Fantastic Four (Debut November 1961), the Incredible Hulk (Debut May 1962) and the Amazing Spider-Man (Debut August 1962 in ‘Amazing Fantasy’ # 15).
Entered the comic book scene at age 17 as assistant editor for the Timely comics group. In 1942, he was promoted to editor.
In 1972, he becomes publisher and editorial director of Marvel Comics.
Admitted he had always hoped to play the character of J. Jonah Jameson in a film adaptation of Spider-Man, though he conceded he was too old to even be considered by the time the film was actually made and praised J.K. Simmons for his performance in the role.
Has it written into his contract that he appears in any movie based upon a Marvel character that he is credited with. So far he has appeared as the Hot Dog Vendor in X-Men (2000), Man in Fair in Spider-Man (2002), Old Man at Crossing in Daredevil (2003), Security Guard in Hulk (2003), Man Dodging Debris in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Willie Lumpkin in Fantastic Four (2005), Waterhose Man in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Man in Times Square in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Rejected Wedding Guest in 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), the man whom Tony Stark mistakes for Hugh Hefner in Iron Man (2008) and an uncredited appearance as the man who drinks the soft drink contaminated with Bruce Banner’s blood in The Incredible Hulk (2008). The only one he has not appeared in was X-Men 2 (2003). Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), where he appears as a U.S. Army general, is a partial exception; he did not create the character, but he created the character’s signature move of throwing his shield in a early text story and was at least partially responsible for successfully reviving him in the 1960s as member of the Avengers.
Judy Garland’s daughter, Lorna Luft, lived with Lee and his family for a period of time while her mother was in rehab in the 1960s. Stan’s daughter, J.C. Lee, and Luft were friends and Lorna stayed with the family for about a month until she went to California to live with her father.
He was awarded the 2008 American National Medal of the Arts for his services to comic books and production.
Was a longtime friend of comic writer and artist Carmine Infantino, who was also president of DC Comics for several years.
After his retirement from work at Marvel he was invited to do a limited edition series for DC Comics, Marvel’s principal rival. The series, titled ‘Just Imagine’, presented the feature DC characters — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash — with different backgrounds and stories, as Stan Lee would have written them.
Despises the idea of sidekicks, which is why virtually none of the Marvel characters had them.
He was a juror in a dream sequence in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989).
Pow! Entertainment chairman and founder.
He is often asked where he got the idea for his famous quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” He says, “It just came to me.”.
He has appeared in nine films with Chris Evans: Fantastic Four (2005), 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
Along with Lou Ferrigno, he is one of only two actors to appear in both Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008).
Offered Luke Lieberman his first job, working at POW! Entertainment.
Just started his own Comic Book company called Kapow Comics
Los Angeles, California [December 2008]
His cameo as Willie Lumpkin in the first Fantastic Four movie was the first time Stan played an actual character that had appeared in a Marvel comic book. The script was re-written to include this character after the Thing’s make-up artist, Bart Mixon, made the suggestion to producer Kevin Feige.
His parents were Romanian Jewish immigrants.
As of 2015, there are four X-Men films where Stan Lee doesn’t appear in a cameo. They are X-Men 2 (2003), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). When asked at conventions why he doesn’t appear in movies in which his presence would be expected, his usual response is “nobody asked me.”.
He is the only actor to appear in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
Personal Quotes (7)
I felt someday I’d write the Great American Novel and I didn’t want to use my real name on these silly little comics” [about why he changed his name to Stan Lee to begin with.]
If a character had the first initial in both names, I could at least remember one of the names” [his reason for creating characters with the same initial… bad memory]
I’ve had the same thing for years. I have orange juice and then I have cereal. I have granola with berries and sliced bananas and a cup of coffee and man it’s great. I’m a creature of habit. [When asked about what he has for breakfast.]
The X-Men are basically just me being really lazy. If I said that their powers came from a mutation that would be it. I wouldn’t have to explain it any further.
I love Marvel and the people there. I’m glad I’m still part of it.
I always sympathized with the people who did work for hire; I was one of them.
I have never had a lap dance in Tampa or any other part of Florida. If I ever did have a lap dance, I don’t think I would be discussing television ideas with the girl that was giving it to me.
Entered the comic book scene at age 17 as assistant editor for the Timely comics group. In 1942, he was promoted to editor.
In 1972, he becomes publisher and editorial director of Marvel Comics.
Admitted he had always hoped to play the character of J. Jonah Jameson in a film adaptation of Spider-Man, though he conceded he was too old to even be considered by the time the film was actually made and praised J.K. Simmons for his performance in the role.
Has it written into his contract that he appears in any movie based upon a Marvel character that he is credited with. So far he has appeared as the Hot Dog Vendor in X-Men (2000), Man in Fair in Spider-Man (2002), Old Man at Crossing in Daredevil (2003), Security Guard in Hulk (2003), Man Dodging Debris in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Willie Lumpkin in Fantastic Four (2005), Waterhose Man in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Man in Times Square in Spider-Man 3 (2007), Rejected Wedding Guest in 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), the man whom Tony Stark mistakes for Hugh Hefner in Iron Man (2008) and an uncredited appearance as the man who drinks the soft drink contaminated with Bruce Banner’s blood in The Incredible Hulk (2008). The only one he has not appeared in was X-Men 2 (2003). Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), where he appears as a U.S. Army general, is a partial exception; he did not create the character, but he created the character’s signature move of throwing his shield in a early text story and was at least partially responsible for successfully reviving him in the 1960s as member of the Avengers.
Judy Garland’s daughter, Lorna Luft, lived with Lee and his family for a period of time while her mother was in rehab in the 1960s. Stan’s daughter, J.C. Lee, and Luft were friends and Lorna stayed with the family for about a month until she went to California to live with her father.
He was awarded the 2008 American National Medal of the Arts for his services to comic books and production.
Was a longtime friend of comic writer and artist Carmine Infantino, who was also president of DC Comics for several years.
After his retirement from work at Marvel he was invited to do a limited edition series for DC Comics, Marvel’s principal rival. The series, titled ‘Just Imagine’, presented the feature DC characters — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash — with different backgrounds and stories, as Stan Lee would have written them.
Despises the idea of sidekicks, which is why virtually none of the Marvel characters had them.
He was a juror in a dream sequence in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989).
Pow! Entertainment chairman and founder.
He is often asked where he got the idea for his famous quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” He says, “It just came to me.”.
He has appeared in nine films with Chris Evans: Fantastic Four (2005), 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
Along with Lou Ferrigno, he is one of only two actors to appear in both Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008).
Offered Luke Lieberman his first job, working at POW! Entertainment.
Just started his own Comic Book company called Kapow Comics
Los Angeles, California [December 2008]
His cameo as Willie Lumpkin in the first Fantastic Four movie was the first time Stan played an actual character that had appeared in a Marvel comic book. The script was re-written to include this character after the Thing’s make-up artist, Bart Mixon, made the suggestion to producer Kevin Feige.
His parents were Romanian Jewish immigrants.
As of 2015, there are four X-Men films where Stan Lee doesn’t appear in a cameo. They are X-Men 2 (2003), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). When asked at conventions why he doesn’t appear in movies in which his presence would be expected, his usual response is “nobody asked me.”.
He is the only actor to appear in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
Personal Quotes (7)
I felt someday I’d write the Great American Novel and I didn’t want to use my real name on these silly little comics” [about why he changed his name to Stan Lee to begin with.]
If a character had the first initial in both names, I could at least remember one of the names” [his reason for creating characters with the same initial… bad memory]
I’ve had the same thing for years. I have orange juice and then I have cereal. I have granola with berries and sliced bananas and a cup of coffee and man it’s great. I’m a creature of habit. [When asked about what he has for breakfast.]
The X-Men are basically just me being really lazy. If I said that their powers came from a mutation that would be it. I wouldn’t have to explain it any further.
I love Marvel and the people there. I’m glad I’m still part of it.
I always sympathized with the people who did work for hire; I was one of them.
I have never had a lap dance in Tampa or any other part of Florida. If I ever did have a lap dance, I don’t think I would be discussing television ideas with the girl that was giving it to me.
