Most will remember Bruce Lee (李小龙) as a legendary martial artist. However, beneath that tough exterior, lay a heart that Bruce once gave to a certain American actress, Sharon Farrell. Unfortunately, their romance though sweet, was short-lived.
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee’s passing. Coincidently, his old flame, Sharon Farrell too passed away earlier this year in May at age 82. The two may be together now in death, but, in life, they were caught in a complicated love triangle!
Sharon had quite a busy career, however, it seems her love life was very eventful as well. Overall, she married five times, with her first marriage to actor Andrew Prine only lasting a month. Still, her spiciest relationship was her love triangle with Bruce Lee and actor Steve McQueen. Sharon and Bruce met in 1969 when he was an advisor for “The Wrecking Crew”.
Bruce had also shared feelings for Sharon as well as he once snuck onto a set in Mississippi where she and Steve had been filming. Creeping up on her from behind, he reportedly covered her mouth and asked: “Why didn’t you call me back? Do you think I can’t find you?” They then made out in her trailer before Sharon admitted to dating Steve.
“I’m just using him to get over you,” she confessed. “We can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry.” Bruce had also been Steve’s martial arts coach at the time. But, Sharon did share that Bruce was the “most incredible lover” she had ever had, adding he had “a beautiful body“. “He was just so knowledgeable about a woman’s body,” she added.
As Sharon said: “Steve was successful. He was my protector. I was in lust with Steve, but Bruce was the love of my life.” However, notably enough, Sharon later moved on from both Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee to her third husband, actor John Boyer.
Fans will know that Bruce himself married Linda Cadwell in secret in August 1964 after meeting her at the University of Washington. The couple had two children, Brandon and Shannon. It is believed Bruce’s affair with Sharon took place after Shannon’s birth.
Sources: China Press, Wing Chun News
