James Lew
Acting
🎂 1952-09-06
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).
Cast credits(108)
ND Man #1
2002
Security Guard
1993
Cambodian
1984
Asian Thug
1985
Man in Bar
1989
2004
Anad Chenerad
2007
Cop
2000
Tiger
1993
Asian Thug
1982
Ton Li
1982
Bloodhound Teep
1994
Warrior
1993
Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
1998
Triad Assassin (uncredited)
2007
Triad Gangster (uncredited)
2001
Mosura
2008
Romulan (uncredited)
2009
1994
Movie Villain #2
1985
Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
2008
Chinese Leader
2013
2003
Chang Sing #1
1986
Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
2012
Mercenary (uncredited)
1995
Thug with knife
1995
DEA Agent - CalTrans
2000
Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
2008
Freighter's Captain
1998
Kick Boxer Opponent
1993
Hershe Gang Member
1996
Quan Li
2001
1988
Mercenary at Aegis 1 (uncredited)
1994
Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
1991
Sae Jin Kwon
1989
Sensei Phil
2017
Bodyguard
1998
Knife #1
1994
Mongol
1994
Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
1992
Man on street (uncredited)
2011
Lew
1991
Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited)
1989
Martial Arts Instructor
1988
Crewcut
1991
Tong Member
1990
1995
Viper
1993
Asian (uncredited)
1998
Ninja #1
1990
Tommy
2009
Novacek's Man
1993
Beat Cop
2018
Guard #2 (uncredited)
1994
Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
1991
Kung Fu Fighter
1983
Akiro
1992
Leo Thamaree
2003
Lee
1995
Big O
2014
Tom Cutter
1996
Eddie
2012
Agent #1
1989
Ninja Trainer
1989
Harry
1997
Karate Instructor
1977
Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)
2002
Hotel Manager
2015
Guard (uncredited)
1976
Hit Man
1993
Hector Sabatei
1991
Sinjin
2017
Lew
2021
Kaan Woo
1996
Thug
1995
Chinese Guard #1
2009
Buford Lee
2006
Asian Fighter
1994
Obata
1993
Black Belt
2002
Woo
1995
Prince Samarki
1995
Cho Sung
2002
James
2000
Darius
1996
Quaid, Windham Henchman
1996
1988
Lou Chang
2000
Nighthawk's Gunman #1
1984
Xu
2005
Jaho
1994
Mr. James
1990
Jason
1998
Black Dragon Henchman
1992
Karate Fighter
1976
Yakuza #5
1993
Abbot Xiao
2015
Self
2018
Spider Webb
2006
Shao Lung
1979
1987
Shinji Takamura
1996
Chin
1994
Chan
1985
1988
Cap Ruch
2016
Crew (71)
Stunt Coordinator
1995
Stunts
2010
Stunts
2016
Stunts
2019
Stunts
2007
Stunts
1998
Stunts
2020
Stunts
2007
Stunts
2001
Stunts
2003
Stunt Double
2012
Stunts
2008
Stunts
2004
Stunts
2013
Stunt Coordinator
2018
Martial Arts Choreographer
1986
Stunts
2001
Stunts
2012
Stunts
1988
Stunts
1995
Fight Choreographer
2024
Fight Choreographer
2008
Stunts
2008
Stunts
1996
Stunt Coordinator
1991
Martial Arts Choreographer
1991
Stunts
1991
Fight Choreographer
2010
Stunts
2001
Stunts
1994
Stunts
1991
Stunts
2002
Fight Choreographer
1992
Stunts
1992
Fight Choreographer
2016
Stunt Coordinator
2017
Stunts
2009
Stunt Coordinator
2013
Stunts
2009
Fight Choreographer
2017
Stunt Coordinator
2001
Stunt Coordinator
1990
Stunts
1997
Stunt Coordinator
2015
Stunts
1989
Stunt Coordinator
2012
Stunts
2007
Stunts
1993
Stunts
1996
Stunts
1991
Stunt Coordinator
2015
Stunts
1994
Stunts
2004
Stunts
1991
Stunt Coordinator
1989
Stunt Double
1982
Stunts
2005
Stunts
1990
Stunts
1979
Stunt Coordinator
2006
Stunt Coordinator
1993
Fight Choreographer
2015
Stunt Coordinator
1995
Fight Choreographer
2002
Stunt Coordinator
1996
Stunt Coordinator
1990
Stunts
1983
Stunts
2004
Stunts
1997
Stunt Coordinator
2019
Stunt Coordinator
2008