James Lew

Born: 6th of September 1952 (73 years old)

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).

James Lew's Filmography

Frankenstein

Frankenstein

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Hotel Manager
G.I. Joe: Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Chinese Leader
Safe

Safe

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
Star Trek

Star Trek

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Romulan (uncredited)
Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
Superhero Movie

Superhero Movie

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
Chuck

Chuck

  •   TV Show
  • 2007
Anad Chenerad
Rush Hour 3

Rush Hour 3

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Triad Assassin (uncredited)
Rush Hour 2

Rush Hour 2

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Triad Gangster (uncredited)
Traffic

Traffic

  •   Movie
  • 2000
DEA Agent - CalTrans
Rush Hour

Rush Hour

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
Lethal Weapon 4

Lethal Weapon 4

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Freighter's Captain
Safe House

Safe House

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Asian (uncredited)
The Replacement Killers

The Replacement Killers

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Bodyguard
Escape from L.A.

Escape from L.A.

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Hershe Gang Member
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Mercenary (uncredited)
Timecop

Timecop

  •   Movie
  • 1994
Knife #1
The Shadow

The Shadow

  •   Movie
  • 1994
Mongol
Babylon 5

Babylon 5

  •   TV Show
  • 1994
Bloodhound Teep
Showdown

Showdown

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Hit Man
Undercover Blues

Undercover Blues

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Novacek's Man
Hot Shots! Part Deux

Hot Shots! Part Deux

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Kick Boxer Opponent
Walker, Texas Ranger

Walker, Texas Ranger

  •   TV Show
  • 1993
Tiger
Mission of Justice

Mission of Justice

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Akiro
Rapid Fire

Rapid Fire

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
Martial Law II: Undercover

Martial Law II: Undercover

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
Showdown in Little Tokyo

Showdown in Little Tokyo

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
The Perfect Weapon

The Perfect Weapon

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Crewcut
Martial Law

Martial Law

  •   Movie
  • 1990
Tong Member
Best of the Best

Best of the Best

  •   Movie
  • 1989
Sae Jin Kwon
Family Matters

Family Matters

  •   TV Show
  • 1989
Man in Bar
Action Jackson

Action Jackson

  •   Movie
  • 1988
Martial Arts Instructor
Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China

  •   Movie
  • 1986
Chang Sing #1
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

  •   Movie
  • 1976
Guard (uncredited)
Dominique

Dominique

  •   Movie
  • 2024
Fight Choreographer
Mulan

Mulan

  •   Movie
  • 2020
Stunts
Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame

  •   Movie
  • 2019
Stunts
Escape Plan 2: Hades

Escape Plan 2: Hades

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Stunt Coordinator
Mad Families

Mad Families

  •   Movie
  • 2017
Stunt Coordinator
Mr. Right

Mr. Right

  •   Movie
  • 2016
Fight Choreographer
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser

Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Stunt Coordinator
Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Stunts
Safe

Safe

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Stunts
Battleship

Battleship

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Stunt Double
Inception

Inception

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Stunts
Killers

Killers

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Fight Choreographer
Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Stunts
Get Smart

Get Smart

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Fight Choreographer
Superhero Movie

Superhero Movie

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Stunts
Rush Hour 3

Rush Hour 3

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Stunts
Flight of the Living Dead

Flight of the Living Dead

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Stunts
Collateral

Collateral

  •   Movie
  • 2004
Stunts
The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai

  •   Movie
  • 2003
Stunts
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist

  •   Movie
  • 2002
Stunts
Impostor

Impostor

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Stunts
Rush Hour 2

Rush Hour 2

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Stunts
Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Stunts
Rush Hour

Rush Hour

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Stunts
Escape from L.A.

Escape from L.A.

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Stunts
Kazaam

Kazaam

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Stunts
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Stunts
Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager

  •   TV Show
  • 1995
Stunt Coordinator
Undercover Blues

Undercover Blues

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Stunts
Rapid Fire

Rapid Fire

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Stunts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Fight Choreographer
Martial Law II: Undercover

Martial Law II: Undercover

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Stunts
Showdown in Little Tokyo

Showdown in Little Tokyo

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Stunts
Double Impact

Double Impact

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Martial Arts Choreographer, Stunt Coordinator, Stunts
Why Me?

Why Me?

  •   Movie
  • 1990
Stunts
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects

Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects

  •   Movie
  • 1989
Stunts
They Live

They Live

  •   Movie
  • 1988
Stunts
Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China

  •   Movie
  • 1986
Martial Arts Choreographer, Associate Producer