Jason Scott Lee transformed 25 acres of damaged Hawaiian land into a self-sufficient retreat. (Photo: Cindy Ellen Russell)
Hollywood actor Jason Scott Lee once stepped away from the pressures of celebrity life to embrace a radically simpler existence on a 25-acre farm in Hawaii, where he grew taro, raised chickens and pursued natural farming.
“For some people in Hollywood, their soul dies,” he said, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin account. Rather, he said he had found a way to pursue film work on his own terms while maintaining the lifestyle he wanted in Hawaii. “My life is pretty complete at Pu Mu,” Lee said, according to the archival Honolulu Star-Bulletin report.
An archival report also documented how the Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story star sought to balance acting with environmental and community work. In an older report originally published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Jason Scott Lee opened up about his decision to simplify his lifestyle rather than remain tied to the financial demands and expectations of Hollywood. The actor continued to select film projects that he felt had meaning while earning enough to support his Hawaii-based lifestyle. His credits from that period included the historical epic Nomad and Only the Brave. “You’re dependent on so many things: recognition so you can get the next job … the next movie to pay off your big house and your big car. It’s a choice. Lee’s decision to live simply was not presented as a rejection of acting itself.
The actor, who rose to prominence in the 1990s through films including Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Rapa Nui, Map of the Human Heart and The Jungle Book, had reached a point where he wanted greater control over his career and personal life.
