|
|
|
|
Kim Lee Biography
|
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on September
17, 1946. Mother, Aiko Tanaka, and was christened, Donald Soper. His
grandparents and mother were interned at Topaz Internment Camp in Topaz, Utah,
sixteen miles west of Delta, ‘til October 1945. Educated in Salt Lake City, finishing high school at East High and enrolled at the University of Utah in 1964. Athletics became a passion early in his life mainly as a way of being accepted by his peers. Kim never knew another Asian throughout his formative years. Track and field along with gymnastics were Kim’s specialties. At twelve years old he could high jump six feet four inches. In 1963, Kim won gold medals in gymnastics in the A. A. U. Mountain West meet. Tumbling was his best event. Kim also placed number one in Utah and number one in the nation in JFK’s Fitness Test. Kim danced and taught dance for Arthur Murray Dance School, earning Silver merit as an instructor at the age of seventeen. Dance soon became not just a way of making a few dollars but was his artistic expression. In 1965, Dick Clark’s “Where the Action
Is”, television series was filming in Park City Utah. An unfortunate ski
accident happened to Roger Manami. Roger was one of the shows line dancers.
Steve Ciro, the show’s choreographer, replaced him with Kim and gave him his
first national exposure. Kim also danced for Hugh Hefner’s “Playboy After Dark” TV series and signed on as one of Playboy Models first male models for Marilyn Grabowski, west coast editor. Kim later did some acting in movies such as “The Kentucky Fried Movie” and TV series like “The Switch” with Robert Wagner and Eddie Albert; then was cast as Bruce Lee by producer Jon Peters and Barbra Straisand in 1978, and in 2005, Madonna's new movie, "Reinvention". In 1970, Kim was introduced
to Pilates Method at Ron Fletcher’s Studio in Beverly Hills, California. After
apprenticing for one year, he became Fletcher’s Director and left in charge so
Ron Ron had clients such as Rachael Welch, Ali Magraw, Nancy Reagan, Candice Bergen, and several other notable personalities. After a few months at the helm, Kim’s physical charisma brought the likes of Steve McQueen, Chuck Norris, Steven Spielberg, Tony Curtis, and other male celebrities. He also trained young upcoming stars such as Susan Dey, Rene Russo, Katherine Ross, Goldie Hawn, Dorothy Hamill, and Cher. In 1975, Kim left Ron Fletcher along with then wife, Wanda Bouvier, to open their own studio. They teamed up with Richard Simmons at Ruffage Anatomy Asylum. Richard ran the salad bar and Kim the gym. It was America’s first salad bar and gym combination. In 1977, Kim and Richard parted ways and Kim and Wanda, with the help of Natalie
Wood In 1978, Kim worked with Eve Gentry, another of Joe Pilates primary disciples, and was certified by Eve in the method which gave contrast to the Ron Fletcher method. In 1982, Kim brought Pilates to his home state of Utah. In 1983, Kim and his protégé, Stephan , opened Pilates at the Aspen Club in Colorado. Other projects such as St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, California, was also on 80’s partner, Vidal Sassoon. Kim developed the west coast Reformer and the west coast method. For 35 years Kim has continued to develop his teaching style. Other protégés
have come and gone In the Nineties, Kim was director of Body Prepared, Roxbury Pilates, and today is at Emerson Hall Fitness in West Hollywood. His passion continues through world wide seminars and workshops. In 2005, Kim was the designated trainer for the Emmy Awards. His development of equipment relative to Joseph Pilates Method for today’s market and the Twenty-first Century is towards Health and Fitness! As Bruce Lee said, “Knowing is not enough, we must do, willing is not enough, we must apply.” Kim Lee continues to believe the method is a life changing experience, or as Joe Pilates himself said, “Ten visits, others notice; twenty visits, you will notice; thirty visits, will change your life.” Kim lives and works in Hollywood, California, and is currently in production of his video interpretation and infomercial. Kim continues to do some acting and singing in nightclubs in L. A. He often visits his home, Salt Lake City, where he can just be Donald Soper. His Inspirations: |
could leave LA to work on an Ice Capades production in Las Vegas.
and Pricilla Presley, opened Kim Lee on Burton Way in Beverly Hills – where
legends were built, i.e., The Jackson family, Tina Turner, the cast of Charlie’s
Angels, George Harrison of Beatle fame, and the Sinatra family trained. The list
read like the Who’s Who of Hollywood.
, Mari Winsor, Stephan, and many others. He never
wanted to teach alone. The world is too large for greed or ego. He wishes them
well.