Acting
James Lew
James Jene Fae Lew (September 6, 1952 – August 23, 2026) was an American martial artist, stuntman and actor. 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).
Filmography
Made in Chinatown
Film · 2021
Henchman: The Al Leong Story
Film · 2018
Cucuy: The Boogeyman
Film · 2018
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
Film · 2017
I'm Dying Up Here
Series · 2017
Breakout
Film · 2016
Black Salt
Film · 2015
Frankenstein
Film · 2015
Elwood
Film · 2014
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Film · 2013
The Girl from the Naked Eye
Film · 2012
Safe
Film · 2012
Let Lorenzo
Film · 2011
Death Valley
Series · 2011
Angel of Death
Film · 2009
Star Trek
Film · 2009
Ballistica
Film · 2009
Tropic Thunder
Film · 2008
Superhero Movie
Film · 2008
Childrens Hospital
Series · 2008
Rush Hour 3
Film · 2007
Chuck
Series · 2007
The Circuit III: Street Monk
Film · 2006
18 Fingers of Death!
Film · 2006
Shira: The Vampire Samurai
Film · 2005
Entourage
Series · 2004
Sin
Film · 2003
Eve
Series · 2003
Ultimate Fights from the Movies
Film · 2002
The Real Deal
Film · 2002
Outside the Law
Film · 2002
Sting of the Black Scorpion
Film · 2002
CSI: Miami
Series · 2002
Rush Hour 2
Film · 2001
Alias
Series · 2001
Deep Core
Film · 2000
Fatal Blade
Film · 2000
Traffic
Film · 2000
Strong Medicine
Series · 2000
Safe House
Film · 1998
Boogie Boy
Film · 1998
Rush Hour
Film · 1998
Lethal Weapon 4
Film · 1998
The Replacement Killers
Film · 1998
High Voltage
Film · 1997
Escape from L.A.
Film · 1996
Night Hunter
Film · 1996
Robo Warriors
Film · 1996
Balance of Power
Film · 1996
For Life or Death
Film · 1996
Assault on Dome 4
Film · 1996
Midnight Man
Film · 1995
Excessive Force II: Force on Force
Film · 1995
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
Film · 1995
Ballistic
Film · 1995
Tough and Deadly
Film · 1995
Nowhere Man
Series · 1995
Marker
Series · 1995
Cage II: The Arena of Death
Film · 1994
Timecop
Film · 1994
Red Sun Rising
Film · 1994
The Shadow
Film · 1994
Deadly Target
Film · 1994
On Deadly Ground
Film · 1994
Ring of Steel
Film · 1994
Weird Science
Series · 1994
Babylon 5
Series · 1994
American Ninja 5
Film · 1993
Showdown
Film · 1993
Private Wars
Film · 1993
Hot Shots! Part Deux
Film · 1993
Undercover Blues
Film · 1993
Ulterior Motives
Film · 1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Series · 1993
Frasier
Series · 1993
Power Rangers
Series · 1993
Mission of Justice
Film · 1992
Rapid Fire
Film · 1992
Raven: Return of the Black Dragons
Film · 1992
Do or Die
Film · 1991
The Perfect Weapon
Film · 1991
Night of the Warrior
Film · 1991
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Film · 1991
Martial Law II: Undercover
Film · 1991
Aftershock
Film · 1990
Guns
Film · 1990
Martial Law
Film · 1990
Nasty Boys
Series · 1990
Savage Beach
Film · 1989
Best of the Best
Film · 1989
Ninja Academy
Film · 1989
Family Matters
Series · 1989
Zodiac Power 2: Evil Destroyer
Film · 1988
Action Jackson
Film · 1988
Evil Destroyer
Film · 1988
Roseanne
Series · 1988
Big Trouble in Little China
Film · 1986
Los Angeles Streetfighter
Film · 1985
Growing Pains
Series · 1985
MacGyver
Series · 1985
Killpoint
Film · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Going Berserk
Film · 1983
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
Young Dragon
Film · 1979
Big Time
Film · 1977
Enforcer from Death Row
Film · 1976
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Film · 1976