Lee Go

Growing up during World War 2 in the then Japanese occupied Dutch colony of Indonesia, Lee learned much about life and survival at a young age. Educated in the Dutch school system, he cultivated his love of art, culture and music. He had a natural artistic ability that earned him much admiration from his fellow colleagues and friends. His medium of choice was oil, acrylic on canvas. Lee painted scenes of local villagers engaging in everyday activities nostalgic of a more peaceful time that appealed to many of his admirers. He married the love of his love, Helen Go on December 28, 1970 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Shortly after Helen gave birth to their daughter, Linda, the couple decided to make the move to America.

Though an accomplished artist in his hometown, Lee wanted more for his family so at 40 years old in 1973, Lee sets out for Los Angeles with big ambitions and goals. With the help of his friends at the embassy, he was able to later secure visas for his wife and daughter to go with him back to Los Angeles where he had settled in Hollywood. Lee wasted no time looking for work as an artist and immediately made numerous connections. He began working for SetMakers, a company that specialized in creating painted plaques for McDonald's restaurants. He caught the eye of his employer when he painted murals of WW2 scenes. This secured his employment with SetMakers for the next 11 years as his inspirational WW2 murals inspired the company to do murals for the popular fast food chain.

Lee moved his family from Hollywood to the San Fernando valley in 1976 where they achieved the American dream of buying their first home.

Lee and Helen then had their son, Alan in 1981. With only 1 year left before Lee was eligible for his pension, SetMakers let him go. He did not let that discourage him from pursuing other artist work. Lee also trained and was employed as a mechanical illustrator. He freelanced for a little while before he began his animation career at Marvel Studios.

Lee progressed from one animation studio to the next, leaving his mark as a background/prop artist up to his retirement in 1998 with Universal MCA. He retired a proud motion pictures union member.