James Lew
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1952-09-06 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Escalon, California, USA
James Lew
Biography
James Jene Fae Lew (born September 6, 1952) is an American actor and martial artist. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, James Lew's destiny was to answer a cattle call in Hollywood for the hugely popular Kung Fu (1972) television series. He went on to star in the now collectible Hong Kong film, Young Dragon (1976). He made the move to big budget studio films in 1984. John Carpenter handpicked him as the Martial Arts Choreographer for 20th Century Fox's now cult film, Big Trouble in Little China (1986).
Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mel Gibson, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Dwayne Johnson, David Carradine, Chuck Norris, Dennis Quaid, Kurt Russell, Madonna, Charlie Sheen, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathleen Turner, Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Lee, Snoop Dogg and the list goes on and on.
James was voted "Favorite Action Star" by fans of Inside Martial Arts magazine. Internet fans voted him into the Hall of Fame in the Martial Arts History Museum. Inside Kung Fu Magazine inducted him as one of the "Martial Arts Greats" alongside legends as Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and his longtime friend Jackie Chan.
Hit Parader Magazine dubbed him "the king of big-screen martial arts villains." From the deadly killer in Red Sun Rising (1994) to the deadly fighter in the comedy spoof Hot Shots 2 (1993), Lew has proven his chops in both drama and comedy. As a stunt/fight coordinator his creative talents shone in the television series The Crow to recent work on the hit video game, The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005). He handpicked elite members for his company, "Hong Kong Wire Action Team," to bring state of the art action to movies. His formula for longevity in the film industry is diversity, hard work and having a whole lot of fun.
Most recently, James Lew wrote, directed and starred in a movie inspired by his personal experiences in the business titled 18 Fingers of Death! (2006). The story follows Buford Lee (James Lew), the most famous unknown "B"-minus, low-budget, martial-arts movie star and Ronald Mack (Maurice Patton), a young black kid from the hood. Together they laugh and bond together on their quest to finally make Buford's break out movie, 18 Fingers of Death! (2006).
Acting
(2021)
Made in Chinatown
as Lew
(2018)
Cucuy: The Boogeyman
as Beat Cop
(2018)
Henchman: The Al Leong Story
as Self
(2017)
(2016)
Breakout
as Cap Ruch
(2015)
Frankenstein
as Hotel Manager
(2015)
Black Salt
as Abbot Xiao
(2014)
Elwood
as Big O
(2013)
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
as Chinese Leader
(2012)
Safe
as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
(2012)
The Girl from the Naked Eye
as Eddie
(2009)
Star Trek
as Romulan (uncredited)
(2009)
Angel of Death
as Tommy
(2009)
Ballistica
as Chinese Guard #1
(2008)
Tropic Thunder
as Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
(2008)
Superhero Movie
as Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
(2007)
Rush Hour 3
as Triad Assassin (uncredited)
(2006)
18 Fingers of Death!
as Buford Lee
(2006)
The Circuit III: Final Flight
as Spider Webb
(2005)
(2003)
Sin
as Leo Thamaree
(2002)
Ultimate Fights from the Movies
as Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)
(2002)
Outside the Law
as Cho Sung
(2002)
The Real Deal
as Black Belt
(2001)
Rush Hour 2
as Triad Gangster (uncredited)
(2000)
Traffic
as DEA Agent - CalTrans
(2000)
Gedo
as James
(2000)
Deep Core
as Lou Chang
(1998)
Rush Hour
as Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
(1998)
Lethal Weapon 4
as Freighter's Captain
(1998)
The Replacement Killers
as Bodyguard
(1998)
Safe House
as Asian (uncredited)
(1998)
Boogie Boy
as Jason
(1997)
High Voltage
as Harry
(1997)
Robo Warriors
as Darius
(1997)
Raven: Return of the Black Dragons
as Black Dragon Henchman
(1996)
Escape from L.A.
as Hershe Gang Member
(1996)
Night Hunter
as Tom Cutter
(1996)
Assault on Dome 4
as Quaid, Windham Henchman
(1996)
Balance of Power
as Shinji Takamura
(1996)
For Life or Death
as Kaan Woo
(1995)
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
as Mercenary (uncredited)
(1995)
Ballistic
as Woo
(1995)
(1995)
Midnight Man
as Prince Samarki
(1995)
Tough and Deadly
as Thug
(1994)
Timecop
as Knife #1
(1994)
The Shadow
as Mongol
(1994)
On Deadly Ground
as Mercenary at Aegis 1 (uncredited)
(1994)
Deadly Target
as Guard #2 (uncredited)
(1994)
Red Sun Rising
as Jaho
(1994)
Ring of Steel
as Asian Fighter
(1994)
Cage II: The Arena of Death
as Chin
(1993)
Hot Shots! Part Deux
as Kick Boxer Opponent
(1993)
Undercover Blues
as Novacek's Man
(1993)
American Ninja 5
as Viper
(1993)
Showdown
as Hit Man
(1993)
Private Wars
as Obata
(1993)
Ulterior Motives
as Yakuza #5
(1992)
Rapid Fire
as Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
(1992)
Mission of Justice
as Akiro
(1991)
Showdown in Little Tokyo
as Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
(1991)
The Perfect Weapon
as Crewcut
(1991)
Do or Die
as Lew
(1991)
Martial Law II: Undercover
as Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
(1991)
Night of the Warrior
as Hector Sabatei
(1990)
Martial Law
as Tong Member
(1990)
Guns
as Ninja #1
(1990)
Aftershock
as Mr. James
(1989)
Best of the Best
as Sae Jin Kwon
(1989)
Savage Beach
as Agent #1
(1989)
Ninja Academy
as Ninja Trainer
(1988)
Action Jackson
as Martial Arts Instructor
(1988)
(1988)
(1986)
Big Trouble in Little China
as Chang Sing #1
(1985)
Los Angeles Streetfighter
as Chan
(1984)
Killpoint
as Nighthawk's Gunman #1
(1983)
Going Berserk
as Kung Fu Fighter
(1979)
Young Dragon
as Shao Lung
(1977)
Big Time
as Karate Instructor
(1976)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
as Guard (uncredited)
(1976)
Enforcer from Death Row
as Karate Fighter
Crew
(2024)
Dominique
Fight Choreographer
(2021)
Made in Chinatown
Director, Co-Producer, Action Director
(2020)
Mulan
Stunts
(2019)
Avengers: Endgame
Stunts
(2019)
American Bistro
Stunt Coordinator
(2018)
Escape Plan 2: Hades
Stunt Coordinator
(2017)
Maximum Impact
Fight Choreographer, Second Unit Director
(2017)
Mad Families
Stunt Coordinator
(2016)
Mr. Right
Fight Choreographer
(2015)
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser
Stunt Coordinator
(2015)
The Martial Arts Kid
Fight Choreographer
(2015)
Underdog Kids
Second Unit Director, Stunt Coordinator
(2013)
Olympus Has Fallen
Stunts
(2013)
Extraction
Stunt Coordinator
(2012)
Hijacked
Stunt Coordinator
(2012)
Safe
Stunts
(2012)
Battleship
Stunt Double
(2010)
Inception
Stunts
(2010)
Killers
Fight Choreographer
(2009)
Black Dynamite
Stunts
(2009)
Streets of Blood
Stunts
(2008)
Get Smart
Fight Choreographer
(2008)
Tropic Thunder
Stunts
(2008)
Superhero Movie
Stunts
(2008)
Dark World
Stunt Coordinator
(2007)
(2007)
(2007)
Rush Hour 3
Stunts
(2006)
18 Fingers of Death!
Writer, Stunt Coordinator, Director
(2005)
No Rules
Stunts
(2004)
LArceny
Stunts
(2004)
Forbidden Warrior
Stunts
(2004)
Collateral
Stunts
(2003)
The Last Samurai
Stunts
(2002)
Outside the Law
Fight Choreographer
(2002)
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
Stunts
(2001)
Planet of the Apes
Stunts
(2001)
Impostor
Stunts
(2001)
Instinct to Kill
Stunt Coordinator
(2001)
Rush Hour 2
Stunts
(1998)
Rush Hour
Stunts
(1997)
The Girl Gets Moe
Stunts
(1997)
Double Tap
Stunts
(1997)
Robo Warriors
Stunt Coordinator
(1996)
Escape from L.A.
Stunts
(1996)
Kazaam
Stunts
(1995)
(1995)
Ballistic
Stunt Coordinator
(1994)
On Deadly Ground
Stunts
(1994)
Blue Tiger
Stunts
(1993)
Undercover Blues
Stunts
(1993)
Dark Vengeance
Stunt Coordinator
(1992)
Rapid Fire
Stunts
(1992)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Fight Choreographer
(1991)
Double Impact
Stunt Coordinator, Martial Arts Choreographer, Stunts
(1991)
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Stunts
(1991)
Ring of Fire
Stunts
(1991)
(1990)
Aftershock
Stunt Coordinator
(1990)
Guns
Stunt Coordinator
(1990)
Why Me?
Stunts
(1989)
(1989)
Ninja Academy
Stunt Coordinator
(1988)
They Live
Stunts
(1986)
Big Trouble in Little China
Martial Arts Choreographer, Associate Producer
(1983)
(1982)
They Call Me Bruce?
Stunt Double
(1979)
The Fantastic Seven
Stunts