Born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata, in New York City. Canada Lee distinguished himself as a boxer. When he was blinded in one eye he quit the ring. He started acting during the time of the Negro Frederal Theater Project.

During the 1930s and 1940s he played nonsterotypical roles. Roles that were not traditional for negro actors at that time. Lee is remembered most for his role as Bigger Thomas, in the 1941 Broadway production of Native Son. Lee also played a memorable role in the movie, "Lifeboat"(1944).

Actor's like Lee had it hard and Lee became very outspoken concerning the casting of Negroes in partiular roles.

Canada Lee was Blacklisted because he belonged to "Communist front organizations. Lee was banned from appearing on television, his life had been his acting. Being blacklisted broke his spirit and broke him financially. He died penniless in England

Lee had many friends and loved ones that mourned his untimely death.

Even now, years after his death, his peers remember him fondly and recognize him as one of the great actors of his time. What Lee suffered, no man should have had to go through, yet, the fight for Black actors in Hollywood goes on.

About five years ago when this site was started, there was little or no information on the internet or in print about Canada Lee. This author, as a child saw his performance in "Lifeboat", and that movie always stayed in the back of my mind because he was the first Colored actor I had ever seen in a movie that was not a 'race movie'. When I started this project he was one of the first people I wanted to learn more about and share. I will continue to study this man and add more info as I learn more.