James Lew
James Lew has spent most of a working life as an American actor who has spent far more time working than being talked about. The list also holds 'Big Trouble in Little China'. Most of the work sits in action. Steady employment, rather than one breakout, gives the career its shape. The film 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' accounts for more of the public profile than anything else does.
James Lew
76 Movies
18 Series
James Lew has spent most of a working life as an American actor who has spent far more time working than being talked about. The list also holds 'Big Trouble in Little China'. Most of the work sits in action. Steady employment, rather than one breakout, gives the career its shape. The film 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' accounts for more of the public profile than anything else does.
Movies
Plays Chinese Leader
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
2013
Plays Freighter's Captain
Lethal Weapon 4
1998
Plays DEA Agent - CalTrans
Traffic
2000
Plays Chang Sing #1
Big Trouble in Little China
1986
Plays Hershe Gang Member
Escape from L.A.
1996
Plays Kick Boxer Opponent
Hot Shots! Part Deux
1993
Plays Knife #1
Timecop
1994
Plays Lou Chang
Deep Core
2000
Plays Mongol
The Shadow
1994
Plays Sae Jin Kwon
Best of the Best
1989
Plays Bodyguard
The Replacement Killers
1998
Plays Martial Arts Instructor
Action Jackson
1988
Plays James
Fatal Blade
2000
Plays Crewcut
The Perfect Weapon
1991
Plays Novacek's Man
Undercover Blues
1993
Plays Jason
Boogie Boy
1998
Plays Lew
Do or Die
1991
Plays Agent #1
Savage Beach
1989
Plays Kaan Woo
For Life or Death
1996
Plays Ninja #1
Guns
1990
Plays Akiro
Mission of Justice
1992
Plays Leo Thamaree
Sin
2003
Plays Hit Man
Showdown
1993
Plays Tong Member
Martial Law
1990
Plays Hector Sabatei
Night of the Warrior
1991
Plays Chin
Cage II: The Arena of Death
1994
Plays Hotel Manager
Frankenstein
2015
Director
Plays Buford Lee
18 Fingers of Death!
2006
Plays Jaho
Red Sun Rising
1994
Plays Ninja Trainer
Ninja Academy
1989
Plays Harry
High Voltage
1997
Plays Tommy
Angel of Death
2009
Plays Sinjin
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
2017
Plays Viper
American Ninja 5
1993
Plays Kung Fu Fighter
Going Berserk
1983
Plays Yakuza #5
Ulterior Motives
1993
Plays Darius
Robo Warriors
1996
Plays Mr. James
Aftershock
1990
Plays Lee
Excessive Force II: Force on Force
1995
Plays Cho Sung
Outside the Law
2002
Plays Tom Cutter
Night Hunter
1996
Plays Obata
Private Wars
1993
Plays Eddie
The Girl from the Naked Eye
2012
Plays Tong Leader
Sting of the Black Scorpion
2002
Plays Beat Cop
Cucuy: The Boogeyman
2018
Director
Plays Kane
Made in Chinatown
2021
Plays Chinese Guard #1
Ballistica
2009
Plays Nighthawk's Gunman #1
Killpoint
1984
Plays Spider Webb
The Circuit III: Street Monk
2006
Plays Thug
Tough and Deadly
1995
TV Shows
Plays Asian Thug
T. J. Hooker
1982
Plays Sensei Phil
I'm Dying Up Here
2017
Plays Movie Villain #2
Growing Pains
1985
Plays ND Man #1
CSI: Miami
2002
Plays Quan Li
Alias
2001
Plays Tiger
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Plays Man in Bar
Family Matters
1989
Plays Bloodhound Teep
Babylon 5
1994
Plays Anad Chenerad
Chuck
2007
Plays Security Guard
Frasier
1993
Plays Mosura
Childrens Hospital
2008
Plays Thug with Knife
Nowhere Man
1995
Plays Warrior
Power Rangers
1993
Plays Asian Thug
MacGyver
1985
Plays Cop
Strong Medicine
2000
Plays Cambodian
Murder, She Wrote
1984
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Made in Chinatown
Full Filmography
Made in Chinatown
Kane
2021
Film
Cucuy: The Boogeyman
Beat Cop
2018
Film
I'm Dying Up Here
Sensei Phil · 1 episode
2017–
TV
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
Sinjin
2017
Film
Frankenstein
Hotel Manager
2015
Film
Elwood
Big O
2014
Film
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Chinese Leader
2013
Film
The Girl from the Naked Eye
Eddie
2012
Film
Safe
Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
2012
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James Lew still alive?
James Lew passed away on August 23, 2026 at age 73.
What are the most famous roles of James Lew?
James Lew is best known for roles in Star Trek, Tropic Thunder, Rush Hour.
How many movies has James Lew been in?
Over a 50-year career (since 1976), James Lew has appeared in 76 movies and 18 TV shows.
What was James Lew's first movie?
The career of James Lew began with The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976).
What is James Lew's most recent movie or series?
James Lew's most recent release is Made in Chinatown, which premiered on May 10, 2021.
What TV shows has James Lew appeared in?
On television, James Lew has appeared in CSI: Miami, Chuck, MacGyver, Frasier.
James Lew
1952-09-06 · Escalon, California, USA
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).