James Lew
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- September 6, 1952 in Escalon, California, USA
- Active Years
- 1976–2024 (49 Years)
- Total Credits
- 190 credits in database
Acting Born Sep 6, 1952 Escalon, California, USA 190 credits
Biography
James Jene Fae Lew was an American actor, martial artist, and stuntman born on September 6, 1952. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he began his career after responding to a casting call for the television series Kung Fu. Over his career, he made 80 on-screen film and television appearances and served as a stunt coordinator or stunt double 46 times. His filmography includes the movie Young Dragon and the 2006 film 18 Fingers of Death!, which he wrote, directed, and starred in as the character Buford Lee. He also worked as a martial arts choreographer for the film Big Trouble in Little China. James Lew passed away on August 23, 2026.
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Career overview
James Jene Fae Lew was an American actor, martial artist, and stuntman born on September 6, 1952. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he began his career by answering a casting call for the television series Kung Fu. Over the course of his career, he made 80 on-screen film and television appearances and contributed to 46 additional projects as a stunt coordinator or stunt double. His early film work included a starring role in the 1976 production Young Dragon. In 1984, he transitioned into big-budget studio films, and in 1986, he served as the martial arts choreographer for the film Big Trouble in Little China.
In addition to his stunt and acting work, Lew wrote, directed, and starred in the 2006 film 18 Fingers of Death!, which was inspired by his personal experiences in the entertainment industry. The story follows the character Buford Lee, portrayed by Lew, who is depicted as a famous but low-budget martial arts movie star. As an Emmy Award-winning stunt coordinator, Lew contributed to various television series and films, including work on Luke Cage, Kim Hushable, and Rush Hour. James Lew passed away on August 23, 2026.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Dominique · Fight Choreographer
Made in ChinatownMade in Chinatown · DirectorMade in Chinatown · Co-ProducerMade in Chinatown · Action Director
Mulan · Stunts
Avengers: Endgame · StuntsAmerican Bistro · Stunt Coordinator
Escape Plan 2: Hades · Stunt CoordinatorCucuy: The BoogeymanHenchman: The Al Leong Story
Mad Families · Stunt CoordinatorI'm Dying Up HereMaximum Impact · Fight ChoreographerMaximum Impact · Second Unit DirectorStar Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
Westworld · StuntsMr. Right · Fight ChoreographerBreakout
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser · Stunt CoordinatorFrankensteinUnderdog Kids · Second Unit DirectorUnderdog Kids · Stunt CoordinatorThe Martial Arts Kid · Fight Choreographer
Elwood
Olympus Has Fallen · StuntsG.I. Joe: RetaliationExtraction · Stunt Coordinator
Battleship · Stunt DoubleSafeSafe · StuntsThe Girl from the Naked EyeHijacked · Stunt Coordinator
Death ValleyLet Lorenzo
Inception · StuntsKillers · Fight ChoreographerMortal Kombat: Rebirth
Star TrekStreets of Blood · StuntsBlack Dynamite · StuntsAngel of DeathBallistica
Childrens HospitalTropic ThunderTropic Thunder · StuntsSuperhero MovieSuperhero Movie · Stunts
ChuckPirates of the Caribbean: At World's End · StuntsRush Hour 3Rush Hour 3 · StuntsFlight of the Living Dead · Stunts
18 Fingers of Death!18 Fingers of Death! · Writer18 Fingers of Death! · Stunt Coordinator18 Fingers of Death! · DirectorThe Circuit III: Street Monk
Shira: The Vampire SamuraiNo Rules · Stunts
EntourageCollateral · StuntsForbidden Warrior · StuntsLArceny · Stunts
The Last Samurai · StuntsEveSin
CSI: MiamiKung Pow: Enter the Fist · StuntsUltimate Fights from the MoviesSting of the Black ScorpionOutside the Law
Rush Hour 2Rush Hour 2 · StuntsPlanet of the Apes · StuntsAliasImpostor · Stunts
Strong MedicineTrafficDeep CoreFatal Blade
Rush HourRush Hour · StuntsLethal Weapon 4The Replacement KillersBoogie Boy
Double Tap · StuntsHigh VoltageThe Girl Gets Moe · Stunts
Escape from L.A.Escape from L.A. · StuntsKazaam · StuntsNight HunterRobo Warriors
Star Trek: Voyager · Stunt CoordinatorNowhere ManUnder Siege 2: Dark TerritoryUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory · StuntsMarker
Babylon 5Weird ScienceTimecopThe ShadowOn Deadly Ground
FrasierWalker, Texas RangerPower RangersHot Shots! Part DeuxUndercover Blues
Buffy the Vampire Slayer · Fight ChoreographerRapid FireRapid Fire · StuntsMission of JusticeRaven: Return of the Black Dragons
Full Filmography
190 titles- Dominique (2024) Fight Choreographer
- Made in Chinatown (2021) as Lew
- Made in Chinatown (2021) Director
- Made in Chinatown (2021) Co-Producer
- Made in Chinatown (2021) Action Director
- Mulan (2020) Stunts
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) Stunts
- American Bistro (2019) Stunt Coordinator
- Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018) Stunt Coordinator
- Cucuy: The Boogeyman (2018) as Beat Cop
- Henchman: The Al Leong Story (2018) as Self
- Mad Families (2017) Stunt Coordinator
- I'm Dying Up Here (2017) as Sensei Phil
- Maximum Impact (2017) Fight Choreographer
- Maximum Impact (2017) Second Unit Director
- Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine (2017) as Sinjin
- Westworld (2016) Stunts
- Mr. Right (2016) Fight Choreographer
- Breakout (2016) as Cap Ruch
- Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser (2015) Stunt Coordinator
- Frankenstein (2015) as Hotel Manager
- Underdog Kids (2015) Second Unit Director
- Underdog Kids (2015) Stunt Coordinator
- The Martial Arts Kid (2015) Fight Choreographer
- Black Salt (2015) as Abbot Xiao
- Elwood (2014) as Big O
- Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Stunts
- G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) as Chinese Leader
- Extraction (2013) Stunt Coordinator
- Battleship (2012) Stunt Double
- Safe (2012) as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
- Safe (2012) Stunts
- The Girl from the Naked Eye (2012) as Eddie
- Hijacked (2012) Stunt Coordinator
- Death Valley (2011) as Man on street (uncredited)
- Let Lorenzo (2011) as Interior Design Older Partner
- Inception (2010) Stunts
- Killers (2010) Fight Choreographer
- Mortal Kombat: Rebirth (2010) as Shang Tsung (uncredited)
- Star Trek (2009) as Romulan (uncredited)
- Streets of Blood (2009) Stunts
- Black Dynamite (2009) Stunts
- Angel of Death (2009) as Tommy
- Ballistica (2009) as Chinese Guard #1
- Childrens Hospital (2008) as Mosura
- Tropic Thunder (2008) as Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
- Tropic Thunder (2008) Stunts
- Superhero Movie (2008) as Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
- Superhero Movie (2008) Stunts
- Get Smart (2008) Fight Choreographer
- Dark World (2008) Stunt Coordinator
- Chuck (2007) as Anad Chenerad
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) Stunts
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) as Triad Assassin (uncredited)
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) Stunts
- Flight of the Living Dead (2007) Stunts
- 18 Fingers of Death! (2006) as Buford Lee
- 18 Fingers of Death! (2006) Writer
- 18 Fingers of Death! (2006) Stunt Coordinator
- 18 Fingers of Death! (2006) Director
- The Circuit III: Street Monk (2006) as Spider Webb
- Shira: The Vampire Samurai (2005) as Xu
- No Rules (2005) Stunts
- Entourage (2004)
- Collateral (2004) Stunts
- Forbidden Warrior (2004) Stunts
- LArceny (2004) Stunts
- The Last Samurai (2003) Stunts
- Eve (2003)
- Sin (2003) as Leo Thamaree
- CSI: Miami (2002) as ND Man #1
- Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002) Stunts
- Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002) as Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)
- Sting of the Black Scorpion (2002) as Tong Leader
- Outside the Law (2002) as Cho Sung
- Outside the Law (2002) Fight Choreographer
- The Real Deal (2002) as Black Belt
- Rush Hour 2 (2001) as Triad Gangster (uncredited)
- Rush Hour 2 (2001) Stunts
- Planet of the Apes (2001) Stunts
- Alias (2001) as Quan Li
- Impostor (2001) Stunts
- Instinct to Kill (2001) Stunt Coordinator
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Cop
- Traffic (2000) as DEA Agent - CalTrans
- Deep Core (2000) as Lou Chang
- Fatal Blade (2000) as James
- Rush Hour (1998) as Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
- Rush Hour (1998) Stunts
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) as Freighter's Captain
- The Replacement Killers (1998) as Bodyguard
- Boogie Boy (1998) as Jason
- Safe House (1998) as Asian (uncredited)
- Double Tap (1997) Stunts
- High Voltage (1997) as Harry
- The Girl Gets Moe (1997) Stunts
- Escape from L.A. (1996) as Hershe Gang Member
- Escape from L.A. (1996) Stunts
- Kazaam (1996) Stunts
- Night Hunter (1996) as Tom Cutter
- Robo Warriors (1996) as Darius
- Robo Warriors (1996) Stunt Coordinator
- For Life or Death (1996) as Kaan Woo
- Assault on Dome 4 (1996) as Quaid, Windham Henchman
- Balance of Power (1996) as Shinji Takamura
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995) Stunt Coordinator
- Nowhere Man (1995) as Thug with Knife
- Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) as Mercenary (uncredited)
- Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) Stunts
- Marker (1995)
- Ballistic (1995) as Woo
- Ballistic (1995) Stunt Coordinator
- Tough and Deadly (1995) as Thug
- Excessive Force II: Force on Force (1995) as Lee
- Midnight Man (1995) as Prince Samarki
- Babylon 5 (1994) as Bloodhound Teep
- Weird Science (1994)
- Timecop (1994) as Knife #1
- The Shadow (1994) as Mongol
- On Deadly Ground (1994) as Mercenary at Aegis-1 (uncredited)
- On Deadly Ground (1994) Stunts
- Cage II: The Arena of Death (1994) as Chin
- Red Sun Rising (1994) as Jaho
- Deadly Target (1994) as Guard #2 (uncredited)
- Blue Tiger (1994) Stunts
- Ring of Steel (1994) as Asian Fighter
- Frasier (1993) as Security Guard
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Tiger
- Power Rangers (1993) as Warrior
- Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) as Kick Boxer Opponent
- Undercover Blues (1993) as Novacek's Man
- Undercover Blues (1993) Stunts
- Showdown (1993) as Hit Man
- American Ninja 5 (1993) as Viper
- Private Wars (1993) as Obata
- Ulterior Motives (1993) as Yakuza #5
- Dark Vengeance (1993) Stunt Coordinator
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) Fight Choreographer
- Rapid Fire (1992) as Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
- Rapid Fire (1992) Stunts
- Mission of Justice (1992) as Akiro
- Raven: Return of the Black Dragons (1992) as Black Dragon Henchman
- Double Impact (1991) Stunt Coordinator
- Double Impact (1991) Martial Arts Choreographer
- Double Impact (1991) Stunts
- Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) as Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
- Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) Stunts
- Do or Die (1991) as Lew
- Martial Law II: Undercover (1991) as Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
- Martial Law II: Undercover (1991) Stunts
- The Perfect Weapon (1991) as Crewcut
- Ring of Fire (1991) Stunts
- Night of the Warrior (1991) as Hector Sabatei
- Nasty Boys (1990) as Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited)
- Guns (1990) as Ninja #1
- Guns (1990) Stunt Coordinator
- Martial Law (1990) as Tong Member
- Why Me? (1990) Stunts
- Aftershock (1990) as Mr. James
- Aftershock (1990) Stunt Coordinator
- Family Matters (1989) as Man in Bar
- Best of the Best (1989) as Sae Jin Kwon
- Savage Beach (1989) as Agent #1
- Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989) Stunts
- Ninja Academy (1989) as Ninja Trainer
- Ninja Academy (1989) Stunt Coordinator
- They Live (1988) Stunts
- Roseanne (1988)
- Action Jackson (1988) as Martial Arts Instructor
- Zodiac Power 2: Evil Destroyer (1988)
- Evil Destroyer (1988)
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986) as Chang Sing #1
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Associate Producer
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Martial Arts Choreographer
- MacGyver (1985) as Asian Thug
- Growing Pains (1985) as Movie Villain #2
- Los Angeles Streetfighter (1985) as Chan
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Cambodian
- Killpoint (1984) as Nighthawk's Gunman #1
- Girls of the White Orchid (1983) Stunts
- Going Berserk (1983) as Kung Fu Fighter
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Asian Thug
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Ton Li
- They Call Me Bruce? (1982) Stunt Double
- The Fantastic Seven (1979) Stunts
- Young Dragon (1979) as Shao Lung
- Big Time (1977) as Karate Instructor
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) as Guard (uncredited)
- Enforcer from Death Row (1976) as Karate Fighter
- BOOBA Stunt Coordinator
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James Lew best known for?
James Lew is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Made in Chinatown (2021), Made in Chinatown (2021), Made in Chinatown (2021), Made in Chinatown (2021).
When and where was James Lew born?
James Lew was born on September 6, 1952 in Escalon, California, USA.
How many credits does James Lew have?
James Lew has accumulated over 190 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1976 to 2024.
What is James Lew's background in cinema and television?
James Jene Fae Lew was an American actor, martial artist, and stuntman born on September 6, 1952. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he began his career after responding to a casting call for the television series Kung Fu. Over his career, he made 80 on-screen film and television appearances and served as a stunt coo...
James Lew by the numbers
190credits
164films
26TV series
1976–2024active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Eve (2003) — aged about 50
- Babylon 5 (1994) as Bloodhound Teep — aged about 41
- Nowhere Man (1995) as Thug with Knife — aged about 42
- Chuck (2007) as Anad Chenerad — aged about 54
- CSI: Miami (2002) as ND Man #1 — aged about 49
- Frasier (1993) as Security Guard — aged about 40
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