James Lew, Actor And Stuntman On 3 John Carpenter Films, Dies At 73

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Stunt coordinator James Lew poses in the press room with the award for outstanding stunt coordination for a drama series, limited series or movie for "Luke Cage" at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

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James Lew, a prolific actor and stuntman whose credits include stunts on director John Carpenter’s classics Big Trouble in Little China, They Live and Escape from L.A., as well as Christopher Nolan’s Inception, has died.

Lew’s wife, Jordana, announced her husband’s death on Instagram on Monday, writing, “Honey I imagine you walking the beach with Dudley, sparring with Bruce Lee and finally getting to hug your Dad again. James MF Lew you are loved and will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.”

Lew’s cause of death was not given. He was 73.

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According to Lew’s IMDb profile, Lew had 182 credits as an actor and 152 credits for his stunt work. He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2017 for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie for the Netflix Marvel series Luke Cage, starring Mike Colter as the title superhero character.

In addition to his work on Carpenter’s movies and Nolan’s Inception (2010), the martial arts expert also did stunts for such blockbuster films as Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: End Game (2019), J.J. Abrams’ 2009 movie reboot of Star Trek, Gore Verbinski’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) and Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).

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While most of Lew’s screen appearances were in small roles, occasionally he was featured in major scenes, including a memorable kickboxing match opposite Charlie Sheen in the 1993 Rambo movie spoof Hot Shots! Part Deux.

James Lew’s Screen Career Dates Back To 1974

Born James Jene Fae Lew on Sept. 6, 1952, in Escalon, Calif., Lew’s screen debut as a stunt performer and actor came in 1974 in the uncredited role of Monk on an episode of the David Carradine martial arts action series classic Kung Fu.

Over the next five decades-plus Lew became a respected member of the martial arts and movie community.

“James Lew was the man you remembered: a martial arts master, stuntman, actor, and award-winning stunt coordinator, known by millions and loved by the friends and family who remained by his side until the very end,” reads a tribute to Hollywood legend in Black Belt Magazine published on Monday.

“It didn’t matter whether he was on screen for a minute or carrying a major role. James had a presence that stayed with you,” the Black Belt Magazine tribute continues. “The long hair. The intensity. The martial arts. The unmistakable look. And, behind the camera, an extraordinary understanding of how to turn martial arts into action that worked on film.”

On film, Lew’s credits, either as a stunt performer or coordinator, include Under Seige 2: Dark Territory, Rush Hour and its two sequels, Planet of the Apes (2001), Collateral, The Last Samurai, Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, Get Smart, Tropic Thunder, Battleship, Olympus Has Fallen, Escape Plan 2: Hades and the live-action version of Disney’s Mulan.

Lew also had dozens of stunt credits on TV, which included work on such series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Teen Wolf, Entourage, True Blood and Jonathan Nolan’s TV series version of Westworld.

In a 2025 interview with the Martial Arts Museum, Lew suggested that stunt performers take acting classes to enhance their craft.

“One of my my strongest advice for stunt people or martial artists who think I want to be, you know, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, all that great stuff. I mean, it's wonderful to go try to reach that,” Lew said.

“I really try to emphasize for them take acting classes … even though you’re might not have a line … your choreography, your moves, that’s actually dialogue," Lew added. "So, there's got to be a meaning behind the punch, the kick, and why are you there.”