About Diana Lee Inosanto
For Diana Lee Inosanto, becoming part of the iconic Star Wars franchise may seem like a dream, but it is very much the real-life culmination of 30 years of dedication and hard work. Diana joined the cast of The Mandalorian for the show's second season as the Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth after doing most every job Hollywood has to offer, from stuntperson to director. But mostly, Diana credits her success to having the good fortune of being raised in a charmed circle of renowned martial artists, actors and stunt-people who paved the way for so much of the excitement in today's action filled media.Diana Lee Inosanto is the daughter of martial arts legend, Dan and his wife Sue Inosanto. She is also known as the goddaughter of global icon, the late Bruce Lee (hence, Diana Lee). As an American actress, director, writer, martial artist, stuntwoman, and children's book author, Diana paved a way in the Hollywood ecosystem that is unique, modern, and inclusive.In 1974, one year after the death of her godfather (Bruce Lee), Diana's father established a martial arts school, named the Filipino Kali Academy of Torrance, California with his partner, Richard Bustillo - a man that would become Diana's second godfather. Growing up in the academy she was exposed to a mix of Asian & European weaponry and empty hand systems, and Filipino Martial Arts (also known as Escrima, Arnis, Kali ) all grounded in the philosophy of (Jun Fan) Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. Over the years Diana's fierce commitment to the study of martial arts brought her to Western boxing, Thai Boxing (Muay Thai), Indonesian Silat, French Savate, Shoot Wrestling, European Swordplay and Wu Shu.When it came to the Theater Arts, Diana began learning dance as a child under the encouragement of her mother, and Drama under the guidance of her aunt, Asian American actress, Lilia Inosanto (also known as Lona Nai). Upon graduation, her Aunt Lilia guided Diana to study with famed Broadway casting director and acting teacher, the late Michael Shurtleff, (author of the renowned book 'Audition' a bible for aspiring actors.) Years later, she would go on to study with Asian American character actor, Tzi Ma through East West Players' workshops and joined the Lodestone Theater Ensemble, continuing to grow as an actress, participating in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary plays. She 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.Diana was also a fight and stunt choreographer for several stage productions. This would pave a road for years to come with Diana becoming a "Sensei to the Stars," preparing the who's who in Hollywood for their action roles. Stars like Melissa McCarthy (Spy), Rosa Salazar (Alita:Battle Angel), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) and Aaron Eckhart & Socratis Otto (I, Frankenstein) were some of the performers under her tutelage.Throughout her professional career in Hollywood, when it came to acting and directing, Diana discovered that the Hollywood system was not particularly inclusive. As a young mother of a son with Autism, the road was not easy. In time Diana met her future husband, Ron Balicki, a former deputy sheriff and renowned martial artist turned stuntman, action coordinator & choreographer in Hollywood. Throughout their years together, they formed MARS Action Group and would teach martial arts across the country and int...