Hollywood lost one of its most recognizable martial artists and stunt performers. Black Belt lost a Hall of Famer. And so many of us lost a dear friend.
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.
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 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.
For more than five decades, James helped define the intersection of martial arts and Hollywood.
James Lew, Phillp Rhee and Simon Rhee truly the Best of the Best
In 2024, Black Belt Magazine inducted James Lew into the Black Belt Hall of Fame alongside Simon Rhee and Jeff Imada in the Stuntman category—the first time the Hall of Fame specifically honored the extraordinary contribution of stunt performers in this way.
The reception James received that evening said everything. His peers knew what he had accomplished. Martial artists knew what he represented. Fans knew the face they had watched for decades.
But perhaps most importantly, James knew how much he was loved.
For those fortunate enough to know him personally, his memory is a blessing. For those who knew him only through the screen, his career is an extraordinary journey through more than half a century of martial arts and Hollywood history.
FROM MARTIAL ARTIST TO HOLLYWOOD
Long before Hollywood knew his name, James was a martial artist.
He began his journey studying kung fu under the renowned Douglas Wong in Southern California, becoming part of a remarkable generation of martial artists emerging in the region. Among those in that circle was Curtis Wong, who would go on to found Inside Kung-Fu magazine.
Grandmaster Douglas Wong and the White Lotus Clan featuring a your James and Albert Leong
James became a familiar—and formidable—presence on the Southern California tournament circuit during the 1970s, competing in both empty-hand forms and weapons and earning numerous championships.
He had charisma even then.
His image eventually became a staple of Inside Kung-Fu, appearing on its cover numerous times and helping make James one of the recognizable faces of the era.
But another stage was waiting.
Hollywood.
James began performing on screen and in stunts during the 1970s, with credits reaching back to the era of the original Kung Fu television series starring David Carradine.
Photo courtesy of James Lew archive
Then came one of the films that would forever connect James to a generation of action-movie fans: Big Trouble in Little China.
Photo courtesy of James Lew archive
James worked as both a performer and martial arts talent on the production, and his distinctive appearance, movement and screen presence made him impossible to miss. Decades later, fans continued to recognize him from the film.
That became a recurring them
e throughout his career.
James Lew was unforgettable.
THE MAN BEHIND THE ACTION
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, James became a fixture of Hollywood action filmmaking.
He appeared and worked alongside some of the biggest names of the era and contributed to productions associated with stars including Steven Seagal, Jackie Chan, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jeff Speakman.
His credits stretched across films and television including Showdown in Little Tokyo, The Perfect Weapon, Double Impact, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crow television series, and the Best of the Best where he appeared with best friend of over 50 years Simon Rhee.
The Korean Team from Best of the Best
But James evolved far beyond being the martial artist the camera captured.
He became one of the people Hollywood trusted behind the camera.
Fight choreography. Stunt coordination. Second-unit action. Performance.
James understood something very few people truly master: the difference between being able to fight and being able to make a fight tell a story on screen.
Over the course of his career, James accumulated more than 140 film and television credits, touching multiple generations of action entertainment.
And eventually, the television industry recognized what the martial arts and stunt communities had known for decades.
James became a multiple-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and winner for stunt coordination, with one of his proudest moments coming for his acclaimed work on Marvel's Luke Cage.
After spending a lifetime helping other stars look extraordinary, James Lew finally stood on one of Hollywood's biggest stages and was recognized for being extraordinary himself.
JAMES LEW LIVED TO THE FULLEST
What makes James' final chapter particularly meaningful is that he never stopped being James.
During the last months of his life, he continued attending the events and gatherings that meant so much to him, including celebrations surrounding Big Trouble in Little China, DragonFest and the Taurus World Stunt Awards.
James with a Who's who of Martial arts legends, Tadashi Yamshita, Mike Stone, Simon Rhee, Phillip Rhee , Chong Lee and George Chung
He wanted to be around the community.
And the community wanted to be around him.
Dragon Fest Aug 2026
That was James.
Approachable. Humble. Funny. Gracious. Delighted to see an old friend and equally happy to meet a fan who had watched one of his movies countless times.
For all of his accomplishments, James never seemed to forget where he came from.
At his core, he loved two worlds:
Martial arts and the movies.
And somehow, he was fortunate enough to spend his life bringing those two worlds together.
NEVER ALONE. NEVER FORGOTTEN.
In James' final days, something remarkable happened.
Friends gathered at his bedside to say goodbye. Others reached out from around the world. Voices from throughout his life came through the phone to tell him what he had meant to them.
Among them were martial arts figures James deeply admired, including Al Dacascos and Mike Stone, who called to tell their friend that they loved him.
James was surrounded by the very community he had spent a lifetime helping build.
There is something beautiful about that.
A stunt performer spends his career making moments look dangerous while quietly protecting everyone around him. James spent decades falling, fighting, coordinating and creating unforgettable moments so audiences could believe in heroes.
But in the end, the measure of James Lew's life isn't found in a stunt reel.
It is found in the people who showed up.
The friends who sat beside him.
The people who called.
The martial artists he inspired.
The stunt performers whose path he helped pave.
And the millions of movie and television viewers who may not always have known his name—but certainly remembered his face.
James Lew was not alone.
He will not be forgotten.
In fact, perhaps the most fitting thing we can say about James is the simplest:
He was unforgettable.
In the words of his best friend
James Lew was the most positive person I have ever known. When we were shooting "Best of the Best" in Korea in the winter, all of us were hesitating to get into the ice cold water but James said, Dammit, we are here to do a job, let's do it and do it well", and that fired us all up to do what we were there to do.
When we were working with Madonna, he got spit on and instead of getting upset, he made a joke out of it and said, "oooh, how much do you think I can get for this on Ebay?". This is the kind of quality that made James who he was.
The ultimate professional when working and always making light of challenging situations to get the job done. His work was his life - even towards the end, he was always ready to go to work. I remember visiting him in the hospital and he thought I was picking him up for a day of filming. He had an illustrious career as a martial artist, stunt professional, stunt coordinator but to me he was my lifelong buddy.
Everyone loved him and his personality and positivity set him apart from everyone else. It has been my pleasure being your friend for over almost 50 years, and helping to care for you in the end. When we were shooting "Best of the Best" in Korea in the winter, all of us were hesitating to get into the ice cold water but James said, Dammit, we are here to do a job, let's do it and do it well", and that fired us all up to do what we were there to do.
It's time for you to make God smile. Rest in peace, my friend. I'll see you again for dim sum and pie again soon.....SIMON RHEE
From all of us at Black Belt Magazine, farewell to our Hall of Famer, our colleague and, most importantly, our friend.
Rest in peace, James.
Your life was a blessing to us all.
