Bruce Lee

Martial artist and film actor (1940-1973)

Bruce Lee is best remembered as a pioneering martial artist and movie star, but he also lived his life with a philosophical mindset that informed much of his work. Lee was born in 1940 in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong. Though his time in Hollywood was fraught with...

Bruce Lee is best remembered as a pioneering martial artist and movie star, but he also lived his life with a philosophical mindset that informed much of his work. Lee was born in 1940 in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong. Though his time in Hollywood was fraught with racial bias, he nonetheless went on to break barriers with iconic films such as Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, and in the martial art he developed, Jeet Kune Do, which incorporates philosophy into the physical practice.

Lee’s philosophical thoughts also filled the pages of the notebooks he always carried with him. He regularly recorded everything from his training regimens to poetry to self-affirmations. His writings not only mirrored his physical discipline, but also reflected his belief in resilience, positivity, and personal growth. Though his life was tragically cut short in 1973, Lee’s thoughts and actions remain one of a kind, earning him distinction as an influential action star and philosopher alike.

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Jack Kornfield

Buddhist teacher (1945-present)

Jack Kornfield is a leading teacher of Buddhism and mindfulness. Born in 1945 on a Marine base in North Carolina, Kornfield attributed his early interest in healing and medicine to his scientist father — in part as a way to diverge from his father’s tumultuous nature. After initially studying pre-med...

Jack Kornfield is a leading teacher of Buddhism and mindfulness. Born in 1945 on a Marine base in North Carolina, Kornfield attributed his early interest in healing and medicine to his scientist father — in part as a way to diverge from his father’s tumultuous nature. After initially studying pre-med at Dartmouth College, Kornfield was introduced to the teachings of Lao-tzu, the Buddha, and Confucius through a transformative course on Asian philosophy. He changed his major to Asian studies, and after graduating in 1967, did a stint with the Peace Corps in Asia’s Mekong River valley. During his time there, he trained in a monastery and was eventually ordained as a Buddhist monk.

Kornfield returned to the U.S. and co-founded both the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Center in California. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Kornfield’s blend of Eastern philosophy and Western psychology have made his teachings — found in his many bestselling books including A Path with Heart (1993) and No Time Like the Present (2017) — accessible to millions seeking inner peace, transformation, and contentment.

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Judy Garland

Actress, singer, and dancer (1922-1969)

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is one of Hollywood’s most memorable talents, revered for her powerful voice and magnetic on-screen presence. The daughter of former vaudeville professionals, Garland made her stage debut at just over 2 years old; at 13, she signed with...

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is one of Hollywood’s most memorable talents, revered for her powerful voice and magnetic on-screen presence. The daughter of former vaudeville professionals, Garland made her stage debut at just over 2 years old; at 13, she signed with the film studio MGM. The studio changed her name to Judy Garland, and made her a megastar. Early films such as Pigskin Parade (1936) introduced her talents to the public, and in 1939, her starring role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz made her a bonafide teen star.

But Garland’s rise to fame came at a steep price. Forced into grueling schedules, diet restrictions, and constant pressures from MGM, she was left with lasting scars, including lifelong struggles with mental health and addiction. Toward the end of her contract with MGM, on the set of another Garland classic, Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), the actress met director Vincent Minnelli. They were soon married and welcomed their only child, Liza Minelli. In the 1960s, Garland became a celebrated live performer and an LGBTQ+ icon, solidifying her reputation as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Garland continued working until her death at age 47 of an accidental overdose. More than 20,000 people paid their respects at her New York City funeral.

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