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James Lew

Actor / Stunt Performer / Film Director | * 09/06/1952 (71) | Escalon, California (United States of America (USA))
James Jene Fae Lew (born September 6, 1952) is an American actor and martial artist. He has made 80 on-screen film and television appearances and 46 more as a stunt coordinator or stunt double. He has done choreography for movies like Get Smart, Killers and the cult classic Big Trouble in Little China, as well as television shows such as National Geographic's Fight Science, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, and Entourage. He does Shaolin Kung-Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, and Boxing. He also trained Brad Pitt with sword fighting for the movie Troy. ()
Photo of James Lew

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).

Most frequent genres for this person: Action | Thriller | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inc ...

Inception

12A

2010 | 4.2/5 | 2h 28min
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
available on:
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The "buzz" in Hollywood is that, "18 FINGERS OF DEATH!" will kick the butt out of the low budget martial arts movies genre and knocks us down to the ground laughing! This funny "sockumentart" of the w ...

18 Fingers of Death!

Certification unknown

2006 | 1.9/5 | 1h 27min
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Search on Amazon.co.uk
Watch now!
When trucker Jack Burton agreed to take his friend, Wang Chi, to pick up his fiancee at the airport, he never expected to get involved in a supernatural battle between good and evil. Wang's fiancee ha ...

Big Trouble in Little China

15

1986 | 3.6/5 | 1h 39min
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
available on:
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Given superstrength and durability by a sabotaged experiment, a wrongly accused man escapes prison to become a superhero for hire. ...

Marvel's Luke Cage

15

2016 | 3.5/5 | 46min per episode
Drama, Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Crime
available on:
Watch now!
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Movies with James Lew as Actor(77)

as Lew2021 Made in Chinatown
as Beat Cop2018 Cucuy: The Boogeyman
as himself2018 Henchman: The Al Leong Story
as Sinjin2017 Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
as Hotel Manager2015 Frankenstein
as Abbot Xiao2015 Black Salt
as Chinese Leader2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation
as Eddie2012 The Girl from the Naked Eye
as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)2012 Safe
as Romulan (uncredited)2009 Star Trek
as Tommy2009 Angel of Death
as Chinese Guard #12009 Ballistica
as Shaolin Monk (uncredited)2008 Superhero Movie
as Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)2008 Tropic Thunder
as Triad Assassin (uncredited)2007 Rush Hour 3
as Spider Webb2006 The Circuit III: Final Flight
as Buford Lee2006 18 Fingers of Death!
as Xu2005 Shira: The Vampire Samurai
as Leo Thamaree2003 Sin
as Black Belt2002 The Real Deal
as Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)2002 Ultimate Fights from the Movies
as Cho Sung2002 Outside the Law
as Triad Gangster (uncredited)2001 Rush Hour 2
as James2000 Gedo
as Lou Chang2000 Deep Core
as DEA Agent - CalTrans2000 Traffic
as Jason1998 Boogie Boy
as Asian (uncredited)1998 Safe House
as Freighter's Captain1998 Lethal Weapon 4
as Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)1998 Rush Hour
as Bodyguard1998 The Replacement Killers
1997 Raven: Return of the Black Dragons
as Harry1997 High Voltage
as Quaid, Windham Henchman1996 Assault on Dome 4
as Kaan Woo1996 For Life or Death
as Darius1996 Robo Warriors
as Hershe Gang Member1996 Escape from L.A.
as Tom Cutter1996 Night Hunter
as Shinji Takamura1996 Balance of Power
as Prince Samarki1995 Midnight Man
as Woo1995 Ballistic
as Lee1995 Excessive Force II: Force on Force
as Mercenary (uncredited)1995 Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
as Guard #2 (uncredited)1994 Deadly Target
as Chin1994 Cage II: The Arena of Death
as Knife #11994 Timecop
as Mercenary at Aegis 1 (uncredited)1994 On Deadly Ground
as Jaho1994 Red Sun Rising
as Mongol1994 The Shadow
as Yakuza #51993 Ulterior Motives
as Obata1993 Private Wars
as Kick Boxer Opponent1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux
as Viper1993 American Ninja 5
as Novacek's Man1993 Undercover Blues
as Hit Man1993 Showdown
as Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)1992 Rapid Fire
as Akiro1992 Mission of Justice
as Crewcut1991 The Perfect Weapon
as Yoshida's Man (uncredited)1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo
as Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)1991 Martial Law II: Undercover
as Hector Sabatei1991 Night of the Warrior
as Lew1991 Do or Die
as Mr. James1990 Aftershock
as Tong Member1990 Martial Law
as Ninja #11990 Guns
as Sae Jin Kwon1989 Best of the Best
as Agent #11989 Savage Beach
as Ninja Trainer1989 Ninja Academy
as Martial Arts Instructor1988 Action Jackson
as Chang Sing #11986 Big Trouble in Little China
as Chan1985 Los Angeles Streetfighter
as Nighthawk's Gunman #11984 Killpoint
as Kung Fu Fighter1983 Going Berserk
as Shao Lung1979 Young Dragon
as Karate Instructor1977 Big Time
as Guard (uncredited)1976 The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
as Karate Fighter1976 Enforcer from Death Row

TV Shows/Series with James Lew as Actor(18)

as Shang Tsung (uncredited)2011 Mortal Kombat: Legacy
as Man on street (uncredited)2011 Death Valley
as Anad Chenerad2007 Chuck
2004 Entourage
as ND Man #12002 CSI: Miami
as Asian Thug / Bodyguard (uncredited)2002 She Spies
as Quan Li2001 Alias
as Thug with knife1995 Nowhere Man
1994 Weird Science
as Bloodhound Teep1994 Babylon 5
as Tiger1993 Walker, Texas Ranger
as Security Guard1993 Frasier
as Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited)1989 Nasty Boys
as Man in Bar1989 Family Matters
1988 Roseanne
1987 Beauty and the Beast
as Movie Villain #21985 Growing Pains
as Ton Li / Asian Thug1982 T. J. Hooker

Movies with James Lew as Crew(19)

Directing/Action Director2021 Made in Chinatown
Directing/Director2021 Made in Chinatown
Production/Co-Producer2021 Made in Chinatown
Crew/Stunt Coordinator2012 Hijacked
Crew/Fight Choreographer2010 Killers
Crew/Fight Choreographer2008 Get Smart
Crew/Stunt Coordinator2006 18 Fingers of Death!
Directing/Director2006 18 Fingers of Death!
Writing/Writer2006 18 Fingers of Death!
Crew/Stunts1991 Ring of Fire
Crew/Stunts1991 Showdown in Little Tokyo
Crew/Stunt Coordinator1991 Double Impact
Crew/Martial Arts Choreographer1991 Double Impact
Crew/Stunts1991 Double Impact
Crew/Stunt Coordinator1990 Guns
Crew/Stunts1988 They Live
Crew/Martial Arts Choreographer1986 Big Trouble in Little China
Production/Associate Producer1986 Big Trouble in Little China
Crew/Stunts1979 Stunt Seven

TV Shows/Series with James Lew as Crew(2)

Crew/Stunts2016 Westworld
Crew/Stunt Coordinator1995 Star Trek: Voyager

Full Name: James Lew
Born: Saturday, 09/06 1952 (September) in Escalon, California (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 71 years + 233 days)
Zodiac sign: Virgo (Chinese zodiac sign: Dragon)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Spouses (current/former): Pamela Gidley, Jordanna Potter
Children: Ryan Potter
Other names for James Lew (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"James Jene Fae Lew"
James Lew frequently works together with these people:
Jeff Imada (21x, Crew)
Al Leong (21x, Actor)
Thomas Rosales Jr. (17x, Actor)
Rick Avery (17x, Crew)
John Carpenter (12x, Crew)
George Cheung (12x, Actor)
Leo Lee (12x, Actor)
Mark Hendrickson (12x, Actor)
Gerald Okamura (11x, Actor)
Michael McKenzie (11x, Cast)
Simon Rhee (10x, Actor)
Jonathan Chapman (10x, Cast)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:58936, Added: 05/17/2018, Last updated: 04/13/2024