Biography
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Barbara entered the film industry as an actress. While working as a Production Assistant at Warner Bros. Studios and a Special Assistant coordinating events for Jerry Buss, owner of The Staples Center and Los Angeles Lakers, she found early acting success in television. Her early credits include 'Married With Children', 'Dallas', 'Falcon Crest', and 'Better Days'. She also appeared as a series regular on CBS' 'In the Heat of the Night' as Deputy Christina Surillo. During an orchestrated driving sequence on 'Heat' in 1995, she participated in her first stunt performance. She quickly became in demand for stunt work as the first Hispanic stunt Woman ever in Hollywood and one of only five women of color at the time in the industry.Started landing coveted assignments as the personal stunt double for Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, and Kristen Wilson and Tracy Bingham. Her work as a stunt player includes 'Eraser', 'Last Action Hero', 'Surrogates', 'Dan in Real Life', 'Rich Man's Wife', 'Bulletproof', 'Jingle All The Way', 'Game Plan', 'Dance with Me' and many others. Barbara has performed as an artist in both "Prince" and "Michael Jackson" Music Videos. In 1986, she was a Cheerleader for the Los Angeles Raiders. In 2008, at a friend's request, Barbara entered the nationally accredited American Queen Pageant system. Pulling on her experience as one of the 10 finalist in the 1988 Miss Puerto Rico Universe Pageant, Barbara won the title of Mrs. Rhode Island American Queen and was later crowned the national 2008 Mrs. American Queen. Soon after her reign, she founded Barbara Lee's Lifetime LLC, an event planning company designed to offer clients fabulous events that last a lifetime, which has led her to be involved with many non-profit organizations and her philanthropic calling. Involved as a Board Member for The Genesis Center, and PLAFF (Providence Latin American Film Festival) and fundraising for many other causes is one of her favorite pastimes! With years of high profile industry contacts still in-tact, Barbara became a partner in a production company, and then decided to create her own. With one project already in re-writes with a prominent LA production company, an award winning short film in festivals and industry interest in several others, Barbara's new venture is off to a successful start as her passion has brought her back to film making as a film producer. Mother of three, Taylor (21), Teresa (19) and Harvey E Lee III (17) and was married 23 years to the father of her children Harvey E Lee Jr., now Divorced and living since 9/11/2019 in Georgia.
