Diana Lee Inosanto, a talented American actress, director, writer, martial artist, stunt woman, and children's book author, has had a remarkable career spanning over 30 years. Born to martial arts legend Dan Inosanto and his wife Sue, Diana is also the goddaughter of the late Bruce Lee. Her unique upbringing surrounded by actors, martial artists, and stunt-people paved the way for her success in the action-filled media industry.
Diana began her training in Theater Arts under the guidance of her aunt, Lilia Inosanto, also known as Lona Nai. She later studied with renowned Broadway casting director and acting teacher Michael Shurtleff, as well as Asian American character actor Tzi Ma. Diana furthered her training in the Michael Chekhov method with Lisa Dalton and got the basics of Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Training Center under Johnny Ray Meeks.
As a fight and stunt choreographer, Diana worked on several stage productions, preparing stars like Melissa McCarthy, Rosa Salazar, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Katherine McNamara, Aaron Eckhart, and Socratis Otto for their action roles. Her experience as a stunt woman in Hollywood led her to work on popular films and TV shows.
Diana's personal life has been marked by challenges, particularly as a young mother of a son with Autism. Her husband, Ron Balicki, a former deputy sheriff and renowned martial artist, has been a constant source of support. Together, they formed MARS Action Group and taught martial arts across the country and internationally.
In her career, Diana has been inspired by notable indie filmmakers and has taken control of her own projects. Her first Indie film, The Sensei, was digitally released on Netflix and I-Tunes and won several awards at film festivals. The film tells the story of a gay teenager bullied in a rural town during the AIDS epidemic and was supported by the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Diana has been recognized for her work, receiving the Asian American Justice Center's 2011 American Courage Award and the Maverick Award at the AOF International Film Festival. She has also participated in several causes, including the Wash-the-Hate PSA and the Congressional Gold Medal Bill for WWII Filipino American Veterans.
As a woman of many interests, Diana has released a children's book, The Curious Mind of Sebastian, which tells the story of her journey to understand her Autistic son's quirky behavior. She has also joined Oscar-winning producer Mark Gordon and Matt Jackson in developing a story on her father's work creating a secret training program for the 1977 Dallas Cowboys.
Diana's personal philosophy is best expressed by Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut: "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."
