If you're trying to come up with a list of the most passionate people in Hollywood then Spike Lee must be gunning for the top spot.
Whether it's lampooning racial stereotypes in his seminal joint "Do The Right Thing" (1989) or lambasting Will Smith for pandering to a white-dominated film industry, Lee always seems to have a fight on his hands.
Born Shelton Lee in Atlanta in 1957 and raised in Brooklyn, his canon of films has established him as one of the modern era's most provocative and controversial movie makers.
With a dearth of high-profile black film makers in Hollywood, Lee burst onto the scene in 1986 with his debut feature "She's Gotta Have It". But he really hit the headlines with "Do The Right Thing", which starred Danny Aiello, John Turturro, and Lee himself. Set on a scorching day in Brooklyn, Lee painted a vicious satire on culture divides, which tumbles inevitably towards violence.
He has balanced films with ads and music promos, creating definitive spots for Nike, starring Michael Jordan. Earning good money for his commercial work enabled Lee to concentrate on his creative vision in films and he still commands an enviable degree of freedom.
Lee's magnum opus came in the shape of a biopic about black activist Malcolm X. Featuring a spectacular Oscar-nominated central performance by Denzel Washington, this three-hour epic earned plaudits and criticism for its portrayal of the slain leader.
And his fire doesn't look like abating. Married since 1993 to Tanya Lynette Lewis , with two children, Lee's latest film is "Bamboozled", another satire on the lack of black talent in the television industry. You can catch him in a more relaxed mood with "The Original Kings Of Comedy" (2000), a documentary featuring footage of stand-up shows from the likes of the legend DH Hughley.
But don't expect his light-heartedness to last. While there are fights to be fought and people selling out, Spike won't be giving up.
