James Lew
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
ActingBirthday
September 6, 1952Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
105Place of birth
Escalon, California, USAAlso known as
James Jene Fae Lew![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/wuC0B13IutImC1AJ7VUxBCuZJVg.jpg)
Cast credits
![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/3L9lL2eUsmLNNfENPwNOc82Hzpw.jpg)
Escape from L.A.
Hershe Gang Member![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/5c0tTP3FvbxJjA04Efavq0GATh0.jpg)
Angel of Death
Tommy![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/5vLZixx4wG2ytwJDmolpaJfA0MA.jpg)
Night Hunter
Tom Cutter![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/feLMfivbHHla844jWrVnqgzU0Zh.jpg)
American Ninja 5
Viper![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/xrAgzeYhng1sQjfjJFJdrcZcFK3.jpg)
Do or Die
Lew![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/pNIdiXE3gFnRqDjXwrgo8ZSscTZ.jpg)
Robo Warriors
Darius![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/lF1s59NfRmHLolL1R9BpwZVaTWT.jpg)
Savage Beach
Agent #1![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/zMGmnxe7Lap6Ek1ZxIzdAdbuJeJ.jpg)
Ultimate Fights from the Movies
Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/yWIIlDEij3CSDoDR7qws6mNKzQS.jpg)
The Girl from the Naked Eye
Eddie![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/3k1hKBsExunkCQawC5q3y1EmStL.jpg)
Los Angeles Streetfighter
Chan![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/w6idiVM0FAXIoun1WLd6KSdNqH.jpg)
Showdown
Hit Man![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/ofusokaSD8FuWBjYiWz8f1TqyAT.jpg)
Private Wars
Obata![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/kImQ3reFGHB5GaFX66PdochL23u.jpg)
Aftershock
Mr. James![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/jd2c2ar3kXvh8xo6OZZKQkELssU.jpg)
Midnight Man
Prince Samarki![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/f26ClqwwDzC1ql6d7PpAbhWj3N7.jpg)
High Voltage
Harry![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/jB1I9LihBFKzJlRhpOPzbEXdgKc.jpg)
Best of the Best
Sae Jin Kwon![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/5JlgRLdHQfE281HurochBqeE2N9.jpg)
The Circuit III: Final Flight
Spider Webb![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/3O3maeygB7Ac3eMTV84gXiHlVkH.jpg)
Big Time
Karate Instructor![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/66dh3GeSmxuPFpFaSNkjIfITz0g.jpg)
Balance of Power
Shinji Takamura![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/cCXDdDDgNxvtQVzBw9TfTz1QYjm.jpg)
The Perfect Weapon
CrewcutCrew credits
![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/74ltBV3qG6KfXT3xIVMfQqrD9kF.jpg)
18 Fingers of Death!
Director, Writer, Stunt Coordinator![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/gnb8il4XAO7BmMVKtBjfwQRrUPl.jpg)
Ring of Fire
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/cKEZRXFrXEM3wKiZRThyRu6vXZO.jpg)
Hijacked
Stunt Coordinator![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/sZUjbtUS8qxXp4mj90evnqPJqX7.jpg)
Get Smart
Fight Choreographer![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/u7DONfe2myYN0famORX006LIkQA.jpg)
Made in Chinatown
Action Director, Director, Co-Producer![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/eF7FycBB2UKhBtzFfkjsSu9cPaN.jpg)
Guns
Stunt Coordinator![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/tmzwvSqoMC37Tgqwj4mA2dHNSmw.jpg)
Double Impact
Stunt Coordinator, Martial Arts Choreographer, Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/ngnybFTuopfbfmmEeX9jjBQQmF6.jpg)
They Live
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/gI2Qs1yTTj3NcESJyttCkbmJ4k9.jpg)
Big Trouble in Little China
Associate Producer, Martial Arts Choreographer![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/dqWBvqgaaeTJF9iCj3BYiJAwm7M.jpg)
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/5n8oDzJKQZA5TcyXusTwhFrV8iq.jpg)
The Fantastic Seven
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/twGSYhM9d1c2bT5n47xRXDrT8XS.jpg)
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/lPrY3AQ51kp3BjSKlHVRvbSJeK0.jpg)
Martial Law II: Undercover
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/sPT8bQYxsOgoBZXC0Cy3GuInhhl.jpg)
Maximum Impact
Fight Choreographer, Assistant Director![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/9VB8vGV4Aznf6GUc9C7a1EzGHLz.jpg)
Killers
Fight Choreographer![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/nde744Wjaj11BXA4npXcByLDMkw.jpg)
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser
Stunt Coordinator![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/2IZcJHsTugOdyg0Y8ejj4CM2X3a.jpg)
Planet of the Apes
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/3L9lL2eUsmLNNfENPwNOc82Hzpw.jpg)
Escape from L.A.
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/jGWpG4YhpQwVmjyHEGkxEkeRf0S.jpg)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Stunts![](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/h632/gElwFCQTbSK5hdK0PVyia547nst.jpg)
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
Stunts