Dana Hee

Dana Hee
Personal information
Birth nameDana Lynn Davidson
BornNovember 9, 1961 (1961-11-09) (age 63)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Medal record
Women's taekwondo
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games (demonstration)
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Lightweight (55–60 kg)

Dana Hee (born as Dana Lynn Davidson on November 9, 1961, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American martial artist, stuntwoman, action film actress and model, who has also worked as sports color commentator, trainer, spokesperson, motivational speaker and master of ceremonies, as well as a rancher. She was a gold medalist at 1988 Summer Olympics in taekwondo (women's lightweight division).[1][2]

Biography

Martial arts

Hee turned to martial arts as a way to regain confidence after having been a victim of sexual and domestic abuse.[1][3]

She began training in Shotokan karate in 1980, before switching to taekwondo in 1984.[1][3] Since 1989, she has also practiced many other styles for the films, including aikido, boxing, capoeira, jiu jitsu, kung fu, and wrestling.[2]..

Aside from her gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, she won gold medals at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team trials and finals, as well as in 21 national divisional tournaments from 1985 to 1987. She also won silver medals at the U.S. National Championships in 1986, 1987, and 1988, a bronze medal at the Universiade in 1986, four silver and one bronze medals in national divisional tournaments, and finished fifth in her division at the 1987 World Taekwondo Championships. She received the "Female Competitor of the Year Award" and inducted into the U.S. Grandmasters Society Hall of Fame in 2007, and was inducted into the official Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2013.[4]

Film

Hee has performed stunts for dozens of films and TV series since 1993, including Batman Forever, Charlie's Angels, Gangs of New York, Independence Day, Lethal Weapon 4, Mortal Kombat, Spider-Man 2, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and The Avengers, and was a double for Cameron Diaz, Daryl Hannah, Geena Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman, Rene Russo, Sandra Bullock and Uma Thurman, among others.[1][3][5]

Her acting roles included Mileena in Mortal Kombat Annihilation,[6][7] Siann in Mortal Kombat: Konquest, and the mutated Sil in Species.[8]

Other activities

Hee has been a television color commentator (local, national, and international taekwondo events), a master of ceremonies (United States Olympic Committee Olympic Academy, U.S. Olympic Festival), San Francisco-Seoul Sister City Fund raiser, television anchor for New Mexico celebrity golf tournament "Legends & Heroes".

She transitioned from full-time stuntwoman to motivational speaking in the early 2000s.[5] Since then, she has spoken for numerous groups and organizations, and contributed time and assistance to philanthropic causes.[citation needed]

Hee's autobiography, One Step with Courage: The Story of My Life From Olympic Gold Medalist to Hollywood Stuntwoman, was released in May 2020. Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine featured her story and book release in March 2021, as part of its International Women's Day Celebration.[9]

Personal life

She married and divorced Brian Hee, keeping his surname professionally.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tan, Caroline (August 8, 2012). "Life After the Olympics: From Gold Medalist to Hollywood Stuntwoman and Chicken Rancher". Nbclosangeles.com. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Information from Dana Hee's official website, danahee.com; accessed August 11, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Sprit2Power. "Special Guest Stars | Martial Arts Movie". Spirit2power.com. Retrieved July 20, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME LIST OF OFFICIAL INDUCTEES FOR 2013 ® - OFFICIAL TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME - TAEKWONDOHALLOFFAME.COM". Lacancha.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Rayburn, Rosalie (April 22, 2007). "Once a Hollywood Stuntwoman, Placitas Resident Plunges Into Motivational Speaking". ABQjournal. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  6. ^ "Dana Hee in Mortal Kombat: Annhilation". UGO.com. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  7. ^ Serafino, Jason. "The 25 Best Girl-On-Girl Fights In Movies". Complex.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Dana Hee – Yahoo! TV". Tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  9. ^ Zirogiannis, Marc (March 15, 2021). "Dana Hee's One Step With Courage". Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Dana Hee at IMDb