He grew up in Philadelphia, and that's where his mother still resides.
Just a few hours after the nominations were announced, Clara Daniels could be found in sweats in her Wynnefield kitchen, cooking for a church social.
But she might as well have been in sparkles and high heels, given her state of celebration. Her son, Lee, was nominated for a Best Director Oscar for his film, Precious.
He is only the second African-American to be nominated in the category.
"I'm just so proud of him at this moment because it took a lot, it took him 30 years to get to this point," Clara said.
Clara was running errands on Tuesday morning and got the news from a church friend. She immediately called her son.
"He just seemed happy, he just seemed happy like me," she said.
Lee and his four siblings were raised by Clara and her husband William, a Philadelphia police corporal. William was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1975, an act of service Lee came home to commemorate four years ago.
On Tuesday, Clara clutched William's picture and imagined how proud he would be.
"Trust me, he'd be taking all the accolades!" said Clara.
Lee showed Clara the book Precious is based on almost 15 years ago. At first, she thought the material was too graphic.
"I said 'Ain't no way in the world you're going to embarrass me with this book, making a movie out of it."
But Lee won her, and the Academy, over with his graceful work.
Now Clara says she can't wait for Oscar night.
"I know I'm going. I'm his mother, there's no second thoughts about that."
If the Oscar goes to Lee Daniels, the only thing brighter than the statue will be his mother's smile.
