See Spike Lee's Two Kids All Grown Up
Jackson and Satchel Lee are following their parents into the entertainment industry.
Director Spike Lee and producer Tonya Lewis Lee have been married for almost 28 years now and have two children, both of whom are all grown up and embarking on their own careers. Their daughter Satchel Lee is 26, and their son Jackson Lee is 24. And just like their parents, Jackson and Satchel are working in the entertainment industry. To see what Spike Lee's kids look like now and what they've been up to, read on, and for more celebrity kids who are officially adults, check out See Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's Son All Grown Up.
Satchel publishes her own magazine.
Satchel, like her famous dad, is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. While in the film program, she wrote, produced, and directed her first short film, a horror-comedy called Harold and Ruby Take a Trip to Grandma's. Also in 2015, she took on her first movie role, in Spike's film Chi-Raq.
In 2018, after finishing college, Satchel became the creative director of DRØME, a new magazine about queer culture and fashion. In 2019, Satchel told Vogue that it's the freedom she and her business partner, Caroline D'Arcy Gorman, have to elevate queer voices and make their publication whatever they want it to be that motivates her.
"It's one of those things where it's like, as a small business, every day we wake up and it's like okay, cool, what are we going to do?" she said.
Satchel also opened up to the magazine about her sense of style as someone who identifies as a queer woman in fashion herself.
"I'm bisexual, but I think I read as straight," she said. "So for me, my outfit doesn't have to look like anything for anybody else, but when I look at myself, I need to feel like I know who I really am."
For another celebrity kid who's making moves, check out See David Bowie and Iman's Daughter at 20.
Jackson is a filmmaker.
Jackson appeared in Spike's movie Red Hook Summer in 2012, but since then, he's mostly stayed behind the camera. He's even launched his own production company, Indigo 212. In November 2020, his film Thompson Farm opened the Hollyshorts Film Festival.
"When I wrote & self funded this short Film, I was just entering the roughest phase of my life," Jackson wrote of Thompson Farm on Instagram. "I felt my first thing had to be AMAZING. My parents gave me every opportunity they didn't have. I felt it was my duty to do better & I thought I would disappoint the family if I didn't achieve it. (Which couldn't be further from the truth.)"
In 2019, Jackson and Satchel co-wrote a video short, Words Matter, for the fashion brand Coach. It was directed by Spike and featured Creed star Michael B. Jordan. That same year, Jackson directed another video for the campiagn, in which several stars name the words that mean the most to them.
"I had such a fun time directing this with my amazing sister @satchellee," Jackson captioned the video on Instagram. "#wordsmatter @coach taking a strong stance. I wish more Fashion Houses were like them."
For another celebrity kid starting his own careers, See Pierce Brosnan's Lookalike Son Paris on His Latest Magazine Cover
Satchel and Jackson made history at the Golden Globe Awards this year.
In January, Jackson and Satchel became the first siblings of color to be chosen as Golden Globe ambassadors, as reported by the Associated Press. Ambassadors, who help hand out awards and escort winners offstage, have been a part of the ceremony since since 1963 and are traditionally the children of established stars. Ambassadors also choose a cause to receive a donation from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the event. On behalf of Jackson, the HFPA donated $25,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. They donated another $25,000 to Callen-Lorde, a New York City-based LGBTQIA+ healthcare organization, on Satchel's behalf.
When announcing their selection, Satchel reflected on the opportunity, saying, "It is an honor and a privilege to be named the 2021 Golden Globes Ambassador along with my brother, Jackson. I'm very proud to pay tribute to my father's legacy and grateful for the opportunity to partner with Callen-Lorde for this year's show…"
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Their parents have given them lots of valuable advice.
In a February interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Satchel said that she learned from her father how important it is to go after her dreams.
"Our father has always told us to do what we want and not really listen to what anybody else thinks—including him and my mother, which then becomes somewhat of a Catch-22, but the advice is still good," she explained.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in January, Jackson shared the advice that he's been most thankful for.
"I think what both of my parents instilled in us from a very early age is that anything you want, as long as you're willing to put in the work and dedication into it, you can make happen," he said.
For a celebrity kid who hasn't been in the spotlight much lately, check out Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's Son Shares Rare Glimpse Into His New Life.
Spike couldn't be prouder of his kids—but gives most of the credit for how they've turned out to their mother.
In January, Spike told Entertainment Tonight that he laid the success of his kids on the shoulders of one person: Tonya.
"I have to give all the credit to my beautiful wife, Tonya, for the development of our children, Satchel and Jackson," he said. "There were many times where I was not in New York City. I was in another continent shooting films. I was away. So she gets all the credit."
The night of the 2021 Golden Globes, Feb. 28, Spike shared how he and his wife were feeling about their kids stepping into the prestigious role. In the same post, however, he noted the diversity issue within the Globes organization that had come to forefront the week before. Per Variety, there had been no Black voters within the HFPA for the past two decades.
"Tonya And I Are Very Proud Of Our Grown Children Satchel And Jackson To Be The Ambassadors For Tonight's Golden Globe Awards," Spike shared on Instagram with a photo of the siblings in their awards show ensembles. "However, The Hollywood Foreign Press Must Understand That Diversity Is Needed Amongst Their Voting Members."
As Entertainment Weekly reported, HFPA members took the stage during the ceremony to acknowledge the lack of Black voters and to commit broadly to "a more inclusive future."
For an update on another famous family, See What Michael Jackson's Three Kids Look Like All Grown Up.
