James Lew
Acting
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).
Known for
Acting109
movieCucuy: The Boogeyman
2018
Beat Cop
tvI'm Dying Up Here
2017
Sensei Phil
movieBreakout
2016
Cap Ruch
Black Salt
2015
Abbot Xiao
movieFrankenstein
2015
Hotel Manager
movieElwood
2014
Big O
movieG.I. Joe: Retaliation
2013
Chinese Leader
movieSafe
2012
Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
tvDeath Valley
2011
Man on street (uncredited)
Let Lorenzo
2011
Interior Design Older Partner
movieMortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
Shang Tsung (uncredited)
movieBallistica
2009
Chinese Guard #1
movieStar Trek
2009
Romulan (uncredited)
tvChildrens Hospital
2008
Mosura
movieTropic Thunder
2008
Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
movieSuperhero Movie
2008
Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
tvChuck
2007
Anad Chenerad
movieRush Hour 3
2007
Triad Assassin (uncredited)
movieThe Circuit III: Street Monk
2006
Spider Webb
movie18 Fingers of Death!
2006
Buford Lee
movieSin
2003
Leo Thamaree
movieThe Real Deal
2002
Black Belt
movieSting of the Black Scorpion
2002
Tong Leader
tvCSI: Miami
2002
ND Man #1
movieOutside the Law
2002
Cho Sung
movieUltimate Fights from the Movies
2002
Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)
tvAlias
2001
Quan Li
movieRush Hour 2
2001
Triad Gangster (uncredited)
movieTraffic
2000
DEA Agent - CalTrans
movieDeep Core
2000
Lou Chang
movieFatal Blade
2000
James
movieRush Hour
1998
Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
movieLethal Weapon 4
1998
Freighter's Captain
movieSafe House
1998
Asian (uncredited)
movieBoogie Boy
1998
Jason
movieThe Replacement Killers
1998
Bodyguard
movieAssault on Dome 4
1996
Quaid, Windham Henchman
movieRobo Warriors
1996
Darius
movieEscape from L.A.
1996
Hershe Gang Member
movieBalance of Power
1996
Shinji Takamura
movieNight Hunter
1996
Tom Cutter
movieFor Life or Death
1996
Kaan Woo
tvNowhere Man
1995
Thug with Knife
movieUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory
1995
Mercenary (uncredited)
movieMidnight Man
1995
Prince Samarki
movieTimecop
1994
Knife #1
movieThe Shadow
1994
Mongol
movieRing of Steel
1994
Asian Fighter
movieOn Deadly Ground
1994
Mercenary at Aegis-1 (uncredited)
tvBabylon 5
1994
Bloodhound Teep
movieDeadly Target
1994
Guard #2 (uncredited)
movieShowdown
1993
Hit Man
tvFrasier
1993
Security Guard
movieUndercover Blues
1993
Novacek's Man
tvPower Rangers
1993
Warrior
movieHot Shots! Part Deux
1993
Kick Boxer Opponent
movieUlterior Motives
1993
Yakuza #5
movieRapid Fire
1992
Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
movieRaven: Return of the Black Dragons
1992
Black Dragon Henchman
movieMartial Law II: Undercover
1991
Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
movieShowdown in Little Tokyo
1991
Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
movieNight of the Warrior
1991
Hector Sabatei
movieThe Perfect Weapon
1991
Crewcut
movieGuns
1990
Ninja #1
movieAftershock
1990
Mr. James
movieMartial Law
1990
Tong Member
tvNasty Boys
1990
Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited)
movieBest of the Best
1989
Sae Jin Kwon
movieSavage Beach
1989
Agent #1
tvFamily Matters
1989
Man in Bar
movieNinja Academy
1989
Ninja Trainer
movieAction Jackson
1988
Martial Arts Instructor
movieBig Trouble in Little China
1986
Chang Sing #1
tvMacGyver
1985
Asian Thug
tvGrowing Pains
1985
Movie Villain #2
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Cambodian
movieKillpoint
1984
Nighthawk's Gunman #1
movieGoing Berserk
1983
Kung Fu Fighter
tvT. J. Hooker
1982
Asian Thug / Ton Li
movieYoung Dragon
1979
Shao Lung
movieBig Time
1977
Karate Instructor
movieEnforcer from Death Row
1976
Karate Fighter
movieThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie
1976
Guard (uncredited)
Crew70
movieDominique
2024
Fight Choreographer
movieMulan
2020
Stunts
movieAmerican Bistro
2019
Stunt Coordinator
movieEscape Plan 2: Hades
2018
Stunt Coordinator
movieMaximum Impact
2017
Fight Choreographer
movieMad Families
2017
Stunt Coordinator
tvWestworld
2016
Stunts
movieMr. Right
2016
Fight Choreographer
movieJoe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser
2015
Stunt Coordinator
movieUnderdog Kids
2015
Stunt Coordinator
movieThe Martial Arts Kid
2015
Fight Choreographer
movieExtraction
2013
Stunt Coordinator
movieHijacked
2012
Stunt Coordinator
movieSafe
2012
Stunts
movieBattleship
2012
Stunt Double
movieInception
2010
Stunts
movieKillers
2010
Fight Choreographer
movieBlack Dynamite
2009
Stunts
movieTropic Thunder
2008
Stunts
movieGet Smart
2008
Fight Choreographer
movieSuperhero Movie
2008
Stunts
movieDark World
2008
Stunt Coordinator
movieRush Hour 3
2007
Stunts
movie18 Fingers of Death!
2006
Stunt Coordinator
movieNo Rules
2005
Stunts
movieCollateral
2004
Stunts
movieLArceny
2004
Stunts
movieOutside the Law
2002
Fight Choreographer
movieImpostor
2001
Stunts
movieInstinct to Kill
2001
Stunt Coordinator
movieRush Hour 2
2001
Stunts
movieRush Hour
1998
Stunts
movieDouble Tap
1997
Stunts
movieRobo Warriors
1996
Stunt Coordinator
movieKazaam
1996
Stunts
movieBallistic
1995
Stunt Coordinator
tvStar Trek: Voyager
1995
Stunt Coordinator
movieBlue Tiger
1994
Stunts
movieDark Vengeance
1993
Stunt Coordinator
movieRapid Fire
1992
Stunts
movieBuffy the Vampire Slayer
1992
Fight Choreographer
movieRing of Fire
1991
Stunts
movieDouble Impact
1991
Stunt Coordinator, Martial Arts Choreographer, Stunts
movieGuns
1990
Stunt Coordinator
movieAftershock
1990
Stunt Coordinator
movieWhy Me?
1990
Stunts
movieNinja Academy
1989
Stunt Coordinator
movieThey Live
1988
Stunts
movieBig Trouble in Little China
1986
Martial Arts Choreographer
movieThey Call Me Bruce?
1982
Stunt Double
movieBOOBA
Stunt Coordinator
Directing4
movieMade in Chinatown
2021
Director, Action Director
movieMaximum Impact
2017
Second Unit Director
movieUnderdog Kids
2015
Second Unit Director
movie18 Fingers of Death!
2006
Director
Production2
movieMade in Chinatown
2021
Co-Producer
movieBig Trouble in Little China
1986
Associate Producer