David Lee's early career saw him working extensively in theatre and television in South Africa, earning multiple nominations for his outstanding stage performances throughout Southern Africa. He completed a postgraduate drama course at Drama Studio London in 1995, receiving a nomination for Actor of the Year for his powerful portrayal of Othello.
Lee's feature film debut, Paljas, was an official selection for the Academy Awards in 1998. He began his work in the United States in 2003, building an impressive Hollywood career. In 2017, he joined the Marvel universe as the villainous Limbani in the 2018 record-setting Black Panther, working alongside Michael B. Jordan and Andy Serkis. He also appeared opposite Karl Urban in a breakaway short film for Amazon Prime's acclaimed dark action-comedy, The Boys, in 2020.
Throughout his Hollywood career, Lee has worked with numerous Academy Award winners and nominees, including Anne Hathaway, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, and Terence Stamp in Get Smart, where his scene-stealing performance caught the attention of both producers and fans. He also appeared with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou in the Oscar-nominated Blood Diamond.
Lee's television work on US soil included notable recurring guest appearances in N.C.I.S:Los Angeles, Lost, Nikita, General Hospital, and season 2 of The Librarians, where he brought to life the charming and villainous character of James Moriarty, working alongside multi award-winning actors Rebecca Romijn and Noah Wyle.
Most recently, Lee wrote, executive produced, and acted in his first short film, The Last Ranger, which has garnered multiple accolades including Best Short Narrative, Best Screenplay, and Audience Awards, and is now an Oscar-nominated Narrative Short Film for the 97th Academy Awards in 2025.
Lee is bilingual, speaking both English and Afrikaans, and has expertise in numerous dialects, including Russian, Italian, German, British, and American English. A qualified skydiver with a passion for adventure and dirt motorcycle riding, he is also skilled in skiing, horsemanship, dancing, and singing. His versatility as an actor spans both comedy and drama, making him a truly multifaceted performer.
