Lee Louis Daniels (born December 24, 1959) is an American actor, film producer and director (film director) best known for producing Monsters Ball and directing Precious (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire), the film adaptation of the novel Push (Push: A Novel), by Sapphire (Sapphire (author)), which received 6 Academy Award nominations, including ones for Best Director (Academy Award for Best Director) (the second time an African American was honored in such a way) and Best Picture (Academy Award for Best Picture).