Actor
James Lew
September 6, 1952 · Escalon, California, USA
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.
Notable work
7.4Star Trek (2009)
as Romulan (uncredited)
6.7Tropic Thunder (2008)
as Flaming Dragon Compound Person (uncredited)
5.7G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
as Chinese Leader
7.1Rush Hour (1998)
as Juntao's Man in Los Angeles (uncredited)
6.8Rush Hour 2 (2001)
as Triad Gangster (uncredited)
6.5Rush Hour 3 (2007)
as Triad Assassin (uncredited)
7.2Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
as Chang Sing #1
6.6Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
as Freighter's Captain
6.5Safe (2012)
as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
7.1Traffic (2000)
as DEA Agent - CalTrans
6.5Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
as Kick Boxer Opponent
5.3Superhero Movie (2008)
as Shaolin Monk (uncredited)
Often works with
Jackie Chan
3 titles together
Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Rush Hour 3
Chris Tucker
3 titles together
Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Rush Hour 3
Michael Chow
3 titles together
Rush Hour, Rush Hour 3, Lethal Weapon 4
James Hong
3 titles together
Big Trouble in Little China, Safe, MacGyver
Clifton Collins Jr.
2 titles together
Star Trek, Traffic
Reggie Lee
2 titles together
Tropic Thunder, Safe
Full filmography · 107
Made in Chinatown
as Lew and Director
2021
Cucuy: The Boogeyman
as Beat Cop
20186.5
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
as Sinjin
20173.8
Breakout
as Cap Ruch
2016Black Salt
as Abbot Xiao
2015
Frankenstein
as Hotel Manager
20155.4
Elwood
as Big O
2014
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
as Chinese Leader
20135.7
Safe
as Underground Casino Guard (uncredited)
20126.5Let Lorenzo
as Interior Design Older Partner
2011
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
as Shang Tsung (uncredited)
2010
Ballistica
as Chinese Guard #1
2009