Mega Producer Joel Silver -- 'Hell Yes I Invented Ultimate Frisbee'

Joel Silver -- producer of bad-ass action flicks like "Die Hard," "Lethal Weapon," and "The Matrix" – tells TMZ the rumors are true ... he really did invent Ultimate Frisbee … and he’s damn proud of it.

Silver was leaving Matsuhisa Restaurant in Beverly Hills … and we asked the obscure sports innovator about his greatest non-movie production.

Joel says he created “Ultimate” at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey … and went on to form the first collegiate team at Lafayette College … paving the way for hippies to finally have a sport of their own.