Stan Lee

Stan Lee Headshot

Comic Book Writer • Producer

Birth Name: Stanley Martin Lieber

Birth Date: December 28, 1922

Death Date: November 12, 2018

Birth Place: New York, New York

Stan Lee rose from a comic book writer into a global icon, famous for his superhero creations. A New York native, he began working as an assistant at Timely Comics in 1939. He worked his way into writing, beginning with an issue of "Captain America." He moved into editing while only 19, before leaving to serve in the Army during World War II. Despite his military commitments, Lee continued working on Timely titles from afar. Upon returning to civilian life, he worked on a variety of titles, and for a period wrote the newspaper comic strip "My Friend Irma."

After the publisher became known as Marvel Comics, he was charged by his boss to come up with a superhero team that would rival DC Comics' Justice League of America. He joined with artist Jack Kirby to create The Fantastic Four comic book that debuted in 1961. The style of writing, with the characters that didn't always get along and struggled with knowing what the right thing was to do, was markedly different from what had come before. The success of the title kicked off an unprecedented creative outburst with Lee working with a team of artists to create new superheroes, including The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and The X-Men.

Much like the DC team of heroes, the Marvel characters became joined in a group configuration called The Avengers. Lee became the voice of the comic books for legions of fans thanks to his letters to the editor forum that ran in issues, along with his column "Stan's Soapbox." He pushed his comics to deal with real issues, like racism and drug abuse. Even after largely stepping away from the day-to-day running of Marvel in the 1980s, Lee continued to act as the face of the company, making public appearances at fan conventions and tradeshows. Apart from Marvel, he worked on a variety of projects, typically under the umbrella of his companies, Stan Lee Media and POW! Entertainment.

Among his most successful non-Marvel creations was the animated series "Stripperella" (Spike TV, 2003-04), with the lead character voiced by Pamela Anderson. Despite having been the creative force behind their chief competition, he partnered with DC Comics in 2001 and 2002 on a series of comic books where Lee put his own spin on the company's stable of superheroes, including Batman and Superman. He also became a recognized figure in pop culture thanks to his cameo appearances in the Marvel films, starting with "X-Men" (2000) and ending with "Avengers: Endgame" (2019). His acting extended beyond Marvel, though, as he popped up on films such as Kevin Smith's "Mallrats" (1995) and television shows like "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS, 2007-19).

Not limited to strictly on-screen work, he lent his voice to several animated projects, Marvel-related and otherwise, including "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ). He also hosted the television shows "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" (Sci-Fi Channel, 2006-07) and "Stan Lee's Superhumans" (History, 2010-14). Lee died at the age of 95 in Los Angeles on November 12, 2018.

Credits

X-Men '97Stream

Creator
Series
2024
99%

X-Men '97Stream

Writer (Comic Book)
Series
2024
99%

SlugfestStream

Self
Docuseries
2021

TV Special Featurette: Black Panther

Host
Show
2021

Superhero Kindergarten

Creator
Show
2021

Panda vs. Aliens

Executive Producer
Movie
2021

Clerk

Self
Movie
2021

Marvel's Spider-Man: Maximum Venom

Co-Executive Producer
Show
2020

The New MutantsStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2020
36%

Baymax and Mochi

Voice
Fred's Dad
Show
2019

Captain MarvelStream

Executive Producer
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2019
79%

X-Men: Dark PhoenixStream

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2019

Spider-Man: Far From HomeStream

Executive Producer
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2019
90%

Avengers: EndgameStream

Actor
Driver
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2019
94%

Avengers: EndgameStream

Executive Producer
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2019
94%

Marvel Rising: Initiation

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2018

Marvel Rising: Initiation

Co-Executive Producer
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2018

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Break Out

Co-Executive Producer
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2018

Deadpool 2Stream

Executive Producer
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2018
84%

Avengers: Infinity WarStream

Executive Producer
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2018
85%

Black PantherStream

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2018
96%

Ant-Man and the WaspStream

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2018
87%

VenomStream

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2018
30%

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseStream

Executive Producer
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2018
97%

Teen Titans GO! to the Movies

Voice
Himself
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2018

Once Upon a Deadpool

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2018

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - sv.tal

Executive Producer
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2018

Spider-Man: New Generation

Executive Producer
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2018

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Executive Producer
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2018

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Executive Producer
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2018

Spider-Man: A New Universe

Executive Producer
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2018

Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat

Voice
Ravager Pilot
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2017

Lego Marvel Super Heroes

Voice
Ravager Pilot
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2017

Big Hero 6 The Series Shorts

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Fred's Dad
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2017

Marvel's RunawaysStream

Guest Star
Driver
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2017
84%

Big Hero 6: The SeriesStream

Guest Voice
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2017

Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics

Actor
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2017

Timeline

Actor
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2017

Marvel's Spider-ManStream

Co-Executive Producer
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2017

Nesbitt & Lee: Two Lucky Men

Host
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2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Stream

Executive Producer
Movie
2017
85%

Thor: RagnarokStream

Executive Producer
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2017
93%

LoganStream

Executive Producer
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2017
94%

Spider-Man: HomecomingStream

Executive Producer
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2017
92%

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat

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Passenger
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2017

Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years

Guest
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2016

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

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2016

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

Creator
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2016

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

Executive Producer
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2016

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

Self
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2016

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

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2016

Captain America: Civil WarStream

Executive Producer
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2016
90%

X-Men: ApocalypseStream

Executive Producer
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2016
47%

DeadpoolStream

Executive Producer
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2016
85%

Doctor StrangeStream

Executive Producer
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2016
89%

Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyStream

Co-Executive Producer
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2015

Marvel's DaredevilStream

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2015

Fresh Off the BoatStream

Guest Star
Himself
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2015
94%

Marvel's Agent CarterStream

Executive Producer
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2015
86%

Marvel's Agent CarterStream

Guest Star
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2015
86%

Avengers: Age of UltronStream

Executive Producer
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2015
76%

Fantastic FourStream

Executive Producer
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2015
9%

Ant-ManStream

Executive Producer
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2015
83%

Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!

Producer
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2015

Nightlife Television

Guest
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2014

Wonderland

Actor
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2014

X-Men: Days of Future PastStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2014
90%

Guardians of the GalaxyStream

Executive Producer
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2014
92%

Stan Lee's Mighty 7

Voice
Movie
2014

Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United

Executive Producer
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2014

COMIX: Beyond the Comic Book Pages

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2014

COMIX: Beyond the Comic Book Pages

Screenwriter
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2014

COMIX: Beyond the Comic Book Pages

Writer
Movie
2014

ガーディアンズ・オブ・ギャラクシー

Executive Producer
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2014

Captain America: The Winter SoldierStream

Actor
Museum Staff
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2014
90%

Captain America: The Winter SoldierStream

Executive Producer
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2014
90%

The Amazing Spider-Man 2Stream

Executive Producer
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2014
51%

Fangasm

Guest
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2013

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Stream

Guest Star
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2013
95%

Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird

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2013

Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United

Executive Producer
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2013

アイアンマン 3

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Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United - sv.tal

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2013

Iron Man 3Stream

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2013
79%

The WolverineStream

Executive Producer
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2013
71%

Thor: The Dark WorldStream

Executive Producer
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2013
67%

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

Epix Looks at the Avengers

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2012

Mighty Movie Superheroes

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2012

Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors

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Stan the Janitor
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2012

Ultimate Spider-ManStream

Voice
Stan the Janitor
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2012

Broadway Previews

Actor
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2012

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Plus Digital Exclusive

Executive Producer
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2012

アベンジャーズ

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2012

The Amazing Spider-ManStream

Executive Producer
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2012
71%

Black Panther

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General Wallace
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2011

ThorStream

Executive Producer
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2011
77%

X-Men: First ClassStream

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2011
86%

Captain America: The First AvengerStream

Executive Producer
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2011
80%

Superheroes

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2011

Ghost Rider: Spirit of VengeanceStream

Executive Producer
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2011
19%

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope

Executive Producer
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2011

NikitaStream

Guest Star
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2010
85%

Stan Lee's Superhumans

Host
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2010

New Spiderman

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2010

Black Panther: The Animated Series

Voice
General Wallace
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2010

Planète Hulk

Executive Producer
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2010

Planet Hulk - sv.tal

Executive Producer
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2010

Iron Man 2Stream

Executive Producer
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2010
72%

Planet Hulk

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2010

Let's Make a DealStream

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Game Show
2009

Iron Man: Armored Adventures

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2009

Wolverine y los X-Men

Executive Producer
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2009

X-Men Origins: WolverineStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2009
38%

Tromatized, Meet Lloyd Kaufman

Actor
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2009

The Spectacular Spider-ManStream

Writer
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2008
100%

Iron ManStream

Executive Producer
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2008
94%

The Incredible HulkStream

Executive Producer
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2008
67%

ChuckStream

Guest Star
Series
2007
90%

The Big Bang TheoryStream

Guest Star
Stan Lee
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2007
81%

Stan Lee: The Condor

Actor
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2007

Stan Lee: The Condor

Writer
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2007

Spider-Man 3Stream

Executive Producer
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2007
63%

Ghost RiderStream

Executive Producer
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2007
27%

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferStream

Executive Producer
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2007
38%

Stan Lee Presents: Mosaic

Executive Producer
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2007

Stan Lee Presents: Mosaic

Story
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2007

Stan Lee Presents: The Condor

Producer
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2007

The Invincible Iron Man

Executive Producer
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2007

Stan Lee's Harpies

Executive Producer
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2007

HeroesStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
52%

Who Wants to Be a Superhero?

Self
Show
2006

X-Men: The Last StandStream

Executive Producer
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2006
57%

Ultimate Avengers: The Movie

Executive Producer
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2006

Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther

Executive Producer
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2006

Ultimate Avengers - sv.tal

Executive Producer
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2006

Robot ChickenStream

Guest Voice
Series
2005

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Narrator
Series
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Fantastic FourStream

Actor
Willy Lumpkin
Movie
2005
28%

Fantastic FourStream

Creator
Movie
2005
28%

EntourageStream

Guest Star
Stan Lee
Series
2004
65%

The PunisherStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2004
29%

Spider-Man 2Stream

Executive Producer
Movie
2004
93%

Blade: TrinityStream

Executive Producer
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2004
24%

Comic Book: The Movie

Actor
Himself
Movie
2004
40%

Comic Book: The Movie

Self
Movie
2004
40%

Spider-Man: The New Animated SeriesStream

Voice
Series
2003

DaredevilStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2003
43%

X2: X-Men UnitedStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2003
85%

HulkStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2003
63%

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels

Self
Movie
2002

Blade IIStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2002
57%

Spider-ManStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2002
90%

Spider-ManStream

Writer (Comic Book)
Movie
2002
90%

X-MenStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2000
82%

The Avengers

Executive Producer
Show
1999

BladeStream

Executive Producer
Movie
1998
58%

Nick Fury: Agent of Shield

Executive Producer
Movie
1998

The Incredible Hulk

Executive Producer
Show
1996

MallratsStream

Actor
Himself
Movie
1995
58%

MallratsStream

Self
Movie
1995
58%

Fantastic Four

Voice
Show
1994

Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesStream

Executive Producer
Series
1994

X-Men

Writer
Show
1992

Captain America

Executive Producer
Movie
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Stan Lee
Series
1989
85%

How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way

Self
Show
1988

Muppet Babies

Guest Star
Himself
Series
1984

The Incredible Hulk

Narrator
Show
1982

Hulk e a Mulher das Cavernas

Actor
Show
1982

Spider-Man And His Amazing FriendsStream

Narrator
Series
1981

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

The Incredible HulkStream

Executive Producer
Series
1978

The Amazing Spider-Man

Writer
Movie
1977

Tomorrow's World

Guest
Show
1965

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutStan Lee