Acting · Escalon, California, USA · Born September 6, 1952
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).
MovieMade in Chinatown
2021
as Lew
MovieHenchman: The Al Leong Story
2018
as Self
MovieCucuy: The Boogeyman
2018
as Beat Cop
TVI'm Dying Up Here
2017
as Sensei Phil
MovieStar Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
2017
as Sinjin
MovieBreakout
2016
as Cap Ruch
Black Salt
2015
as Abbot Xiao
MovieFrankenstein
2015
as Hotel Manager
MovieElwood
2014
as Big O
MovieG.I. Joe: Retaliation
2013
as Chinese Leader
MovieThe Girl from the Naked Eye
2012
as Eddie
MovieSafe
2012
as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
TVDeath Valley
2011
as Man on street (uncredited)
Let Lorenzo
2011
as Interior Design Older Partner
MovieMortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
as Shang Tsung (uncredited)
MovieBallistica
2009
as Chinese Guard #1
MovieAngel of Death
2009
as Tommy
MovieStar Trek
2009
as Romulan (uncredited)
TVChildrens Hospital
2008
as Mosura
MovieTropic Thunder
2008
as Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
MovieSuperhero Movie
2008
as Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
TVChuck
2007
as Anad Chenerad
MovieRush Hour 3
2007
as Triad Assassin (uncredited)
MovieThe Circuit III: Street Monk
2006
as Spider Webb
Movie18 Fingers of Death!
2006
as Buford Lee
MovieShira: The Vampire Samurai
2005
as Xu
TVEntourage
2004
TVEve
2003
MovieSin
2003
as Leo Thamaree
MovieThe Real Deal
2002
as Black Belt
MovieSting of the Black Scorpion
2002
as Tong Leader
TVCSI: Miami
2002
as ND Man #1
MovieOutside the Law
2002
as Cho Sung
MovieUltimate Fights from the Movies
2002
as Knife #1 (Timecop) (archive footage)
TVAlias
2001
as Quan Li
MovieRush Hour 2
2001
as Triad Gangster (uncredited)
MovieTraffic
2000
as DEA Agent - CalTrans
TVStrong Medicine
2000
as Cop
MovieDeep Core
2000
as Lou Chang
MovieFatal Blade
2000
as James
MovieRush Hour
1998
as Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
MovieLethal Weapon 4
1998
as Freighter's Captain
MovieSafe House
1998
as Asian (uncredited)
MovieBoogie Boy
1998
as Jason
MovieThe Replacement Killers
1998
as Bodyguard
MovieHigh Voltage
1997
as Harry
MovieAssault on Dome 4
1996
as Quaid, Windham Henchman
MovieRobo Warriors
1996
as Darius
MovieEscape from L.A.
1996
as Hershe Gang Member
MovieBalance of Power
1996
as Shinji Takamura
MovieNight Hunter
1996
as Tom Cutter
MovieFor Life or Death
1996
as Kaan Woo
MovieExcessive Force II: Force on Force
1995
as Lee
TVNowhere Man
1995
as Thug with Knife
MovieUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory
1995
as Mercenary (uncredited)
MovieMidnight Man
1995
as Prince Samarki
MovieBallistic
1995
as Woo
MovieTough and Deadly
1995
as Thug
TVMarker
1995
MovieCage II: The Arena of Death
1994
as Chin
MovieTimecop
1994
as Knife #1
MovieRed Sun Rising
1994
as Jaho
MovieThe Shadow
1994
as Mongol
MovieRing of Steel
1994
as Asian Fighter
TVWeird Science
1994
MovieOn Deadly Ground
1994
as Mercenary at Aegis-1 (uncredited)
TVBabylon 5
1994
as Bloodhound Teep
MovieDeadly Target
1994
as Guard #2 (uncredited)
MoviePrivate Wars
1993
as Obata
MovieShowdown
1993
as Hit Man
TVFrasier
1993
as Security Guard
MovieUndercover Blues
1993
as Novacek's Man
TVPower Rangers
1993
as Warrior
MovieHot Shots! Part Deux
1993
as Kick Boxer Opponent
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Tiger
MovieAmerican Ninja 5
1993
as Viper
MovieUlterior Motives
1993
as Yakuza #5
MovieMission of Justice
1992
as Akiro
MovieRapid Fire
1992
as Tau's Men at Laundry (uncredited)
MovieRaven: Return of the Black Dragons
1992
as Black Dragon Henchman
MovieMartial Law II: Undercover
1991
as Spencer Hamilton Man (uncredited)
MovieShowdown in Little Tokyo
1991
as Yoshida's Man (uncredited)
MovieDo or Die
1991
as Lew
MovieNight of the Warrior
1991
as Hector Sabatei
MovieThe Perfect Weapon
1991
as Crewcut
MovieGuns
1990
as Ninja #1
MovieAftershock
1990
as Mr. James
MovieMartial Law
1990
as Tong Member
TVNasty Boys
1990
as Fighter / Karate class fighter (uncredited)
MovieBest of the Best
1989
as Sae Jin Kwon
MovieSavage Beach
1989
as Agent #1
TVFamily Matters
1989
as Man in Bar
MovieNinja Academy
1989
as Ninja Trainer
TVRoseanne
1988
Evil Destroyer
1988
MovieAction Jackson
1988
as Martial Arts Instructor
MovieZodiac Power 2: Evil Destroyer
1988
MovieBig Trouble in Little China
1986
as Chang Sing #1
TVMacGyver
1985
as Asian Thug
TVGrowing Pains
1985
as Movie Villain #2
MovieLos Angeles Streetfighter
1985
as Chan
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Cambodian
MovieKillpoint
1984
as Nighthawk's Gunman #1
MovieGoing Berserk
1983
as Kung Fu Fighter
TVT. J. Hooker
1982
as Asian Thug
MovieYoung Dragon
1979
as Shao Lung
MovieBig Time
1977
as Karate Instructor
MovieEnforcer from Death Row
1976
as Karate Fighter
MovieThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie
1976
as Guard (uncredited)
