James Lew
Age: 71 | From: Escalon, California, U.S.
Person Details
Birthday: 1952-09-06 23:19:50
Aliases: James Jene Fae Lew
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Escalon, California, U.S.
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 88
TV Involvements: 10
Most Famous Work
Biography
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 Famous Work
CSI: Miami
(2002) ND Man #1
Babylon 5
(1994) Bloodhound Teep
T. J. Hooker
(1982) Ton Li / Asian Thug
Walker, Texas Ranger
(1993) Tiger
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
(2013) Chinese Leader
Star Trek
(2009) Romulan (uncredited)
Safe
(2012) Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
(2011) Shang Tsung (uncredited)Acting
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lew | |
| 2018 | Himself | |
| Beat Cop | ||
| 2017 | Sinjin | |
| 2015 | Abbot Xiao | |
| Hotel Manager | ||
| 2013 | Chinese Leader | |
| 2012 | Eddie | |
| Underground Casino Guard (uncredited) | ||
| 2011 | Man on street (uncredited) | |
| Shang Tsung (uncredited) | ||
| 2009 | Chinese Guard #1 | |
| Tommy | ||
| Romulan (uncredited) | ||
| 2008 | Mosura | |
| Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited) | ||
| Shaolin Monk (uncredited) | ||
| 2007 | Anad Chenerad | |
| Triad Assassin (uncredited) | ||
| 2006 | Spider Webb | |
| Buford Lee | ||
| 2005 | Xu | |
| 2004 | N/A | |
| 2003 | Leo Thamaree | |
| 2002 | Black Belt | |
| ND Man #1 | ||
| Asian Thug / Bodyguard (uncredited) | ||
| Cho Sung | ||
| Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage) | ||
| 2001 | Quan Li | |
| Triad Gangster (uncredited) | ||
| 2000 | Lou Chang | |
| James | ||
| DEA Agent - CalTrans | ||
| 1998 | Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited) | |
| Freighter's Captain | ||
| Asian (uncredited) | ||
| Jason | ||
| Bodyguard | ||
| 1997 | Black Dragon Henchman | |
| Darius | ||
| Quaid, Windham Henchman | ||
| Harry | ||
| 1996 | Hershe Gang Member | |
| Shinji Takamura | ||
| Tom Cutter | ||
| Kaan Woo | ||
| 1995 | Lee | |
| Thug with knife | ||
| Mercenary (uncredited) | ||
| Prince Samarki | ||
| Woo | ||
| 1994 | Chin | |
| Knife #1 | ||
| Jaho | ||
| Mongol | ||
| N/A | ||
| Mercenary at Aegis 1 (uncredited) | ||
| Bloodhound Teep | ||
| Guard #2 (uncredited) | ||
| 1993 | Obata | |
| Security Guard | ||
| Hit Man | ||
| Novacek's Man | ||
| Kick Boxer Opponent | ||
| Tiger | ||
| Viper | ||
| Yakuza #5 | ||
| 1992 | Akiro | |
| Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited) | ||
| 1991 | Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited) | |
| Yoshida's Man (uncredited) | ||
| Lew | ||
| Hector Sabatei | ||
| Crewcut | ||
| 1990 | Ninja #1 | |
| Mr. James | ||
| Tong Member | ||
| 1989 | Sae Jin Kwon | |
| Agent #1 | ||
| Man in Bar | ||
| Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited) | ||
| Ninja Trainer | ||
| 1988 | N/A | |
| Martial Arts Instructor | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1987 | N/A | |
| 1986 | Chang Sing #1 | |
| 1985 | Movie Villain #2 | |
| Chan | ||
| 1984 | Nighthawk's Gunman #1 | |
| 1983 | Kung Fu Fighter | |
| 1982 | Ton Li / Asian Thug | |
| 1979 | Shao Lung | |
| 1977 | Karate Instructor | |
| 1976 | Karate Fighter | |
| Guard (uncredited) | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Directing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Director | |
| Action Director | ||
| 2017 | Assistant Director | |
| 2006 | Director | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Production
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Co-Producer | |
| 1986 | Associate Producer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Crew
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2016 | Stunts | |
| 2015 | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 2012 | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 2010 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2008 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2007 | Stunts | |
| 2006 | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 2004 | Stunts | |
| 2001 | Stunts | |
| 1996 | Stunts | |
| 1995 | Stunts | |
| Stunt Coordinator | ||
| 1991 | Stunts | |
| Stunts | ||
| Stunts | ||
| Stunts | ||
| Martial Arts Choreographer | ||
| Stunt Coordinator | ||
| 1990 | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 1989 | Stunts | |
| 1988 | Stunts | |
| 1986 | Martial Arts Choreographer | |
| 1979 | Stunts | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Writing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Writer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |