Lee Daniels turns 65: a look back at the director (25 images)

By UPI Staff

Award winning-director, producer and screenwriter Lee Daniels is known for directing films "Precious," "The Paperboy," "The Butler," "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and "The Deliverance" and for co-creating and co-executive producing "Empire" and "Star." He turns 65 on Tuesday. Here's a look back at his career through the years.

Lee Daniels arrives for the Gotham Awards at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York on December 1, 2004. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI

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Left to right, Robert Deniro, Grace Hightower, Mariah Carey, Daniels and Ben Kingsley arrive for the premiere of "Tennessee" at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on April 26, 2008. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI

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Daniels arrives for the premiere of "Madea Goes to Jail" at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square Theater in New York on February 18, 2009. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI

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Mariah Carey arrives with Daniels, the director of "Rush," at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on February 21, 2009. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

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