Award-Winning Director & Creator, Fox's "Empire"
Lee Daniels: Biography at a Glance
- Lee Daniels co-created and directed Fox’s Empire. Daniels served as executive producer for all 6 seasons, and the show was Emmy-nominated and won a Golden Globe in 2016.
- After a career as both a casting director and talent manager, Daniels moved into producing with 2001’s Academy Award winning Monster's Ball. Daniels became the first African American film producer to solely produce an Oscar-winning film, when Halle Berry picked up the Best Actress statue, making her the first, and only, African American Best Actress Winner.
- Daniels directed Precious in 2009, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including two nominations for Daniels ("Achievement in Directing" and "Best Motion Picture of the Year”).
- In 2013 he released the critically acclaimed The Butler, a drama that tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), an African American butler who served at the White House during seven presidential administrations. The film, released in August 2013, held the number one box office spot for three consecutive weeks and grossed over $175 million worldwide.
Media
Biography
Lee Daniels’ background is filled with bold stories as real and gritty as the narratives from the films he creates. By the age of 21, Daniels founded and ran his own health care agency, providing nurses to private homes and hospitals; he was simultaneously trying to be a screenwriter. After selling his health care business, and giving up screenwriting, he began managing actors such as Loretta Divine, Michael Shannon, Natasha Kinsky, and Aishwarya Rai. Daniels turned to producing as a natural result of trying to find and create great material for his clients; the organic leap to directing came soon after.
Most recently Daniels produced and directed The Butler, a story following the life of a White House butler who served under eight different U.S. Presidents over three decades. The film was well received by critics and earned numerous Critics Choice, Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Award nominations.
Daniels’ previous project, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, is the story of an overweight, illiterate girl raised in Harlem, sexually abused by her father and about to give birth to her second child, who salvages her future at an alternative school. Precious won two Academy Awards in 2010: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film received a total of six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing, with Daniels nominated as Best Director; making him the second African-American director to be nominated for an Oscar. Daniels also received a historic nomination as the first African-American director to be nominated by the Directors Guild of America.
Following up the success of Precious, Daniels next directed The Paperboy starring Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Matthew McConaughey, and Zac Efron. Also based on a best-selling novel of the same name, The Paperboy revolves around a reporter and his brother who investigate the events surrounding a murder to exonerate the accused man on death row.
Monster’s Ball was the first film from Daniels’ production company, Lee Daniels Entertainment. The film marked Daniels as the first sole African-American producer of an Oscar-winning and -nominated film. Daniels also produced The Woodsman, which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, the film received the CICAE Arthouse Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Jury Prize at the Deauville International Film Festival, and Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking from the National Board of Review.
Daniels’ other film credits include Shadowboxer and Tennessee.
Daniels most recently made the jump to television, producing the drama Empire alongside Brian Grazer and Danny Strong. The show, which stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, debuted in January 2015 on Fox. As a result of the show’s incredible success, Daniels was named to Vanity Fair’s “New Establishment List 2015.” He was also recently named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People.”
FAQs
How do I book Lee Daniels for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Lee Daniels to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Lee Daniels's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Lee Daniels’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Lee Daniels in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Lee Daniels's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Lee Daniels's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Lee Daniels, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Lee Daniels's speaking fee?
Lee Daniels's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Lee Daniels's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Lee Daniels's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Lee Daniels as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Lee Daniels as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Lee Daniels's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Lee Daniels's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Lee Daniels for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Lee Daniels speaking engagements.
Official contact for Lee Daniels bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/lee-daniels
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Lee Daniels.
Is Lee Daniels available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Lee Daniels speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Lee Daniels's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Lee Daniels's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Lee Daniels's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Lee Daniels for?
Book Lee Daniels for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Lee Daniels customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Lee Daniels engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Lee Daniels can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Lee Daniels booking information and availability
Check Lee Daniels's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Lee Daniels for your preferred event date.
Book Lee Daniels keynote speaker through CAA
Book Lee Daniels through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Lee Daniels, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Lee Daniels's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Lee Daniels for your next event.
Will Lee Daniels speak at private events?
Yes, Lee Daniels speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Lee Daniels's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Lee Daniels?
CAA Speakers responds to Lee Daniels booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Lee Daniels?
Book Lee Daniels 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Lee Daniels pricing information?
Get Lee Daniels pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.