Veteran stuntman and actor James Lew dies at 73

James Lew, a distinguished martial-arts expert who built a five-decade career as a stuntman and actor, has died at 73, according to a post by his wife Jordana on Instagram. Lew’s résumé includes stunt work on John Carpenter classics such as Big Trouble in Little China, They Live and Escape From L.A., as well as high-profile projects like Christopher Nolan’s Inception, the Russo brothers’ Avengers: Endgame, and the 2009 Star Trek reboot.

He received a Primetime Emmy Award in 2017 for Outstanding Stunt Coordination on the Netflix Marvel series Luke Cage starring Mike Colter. While most of his on-screen appearances were brief, he featured in memorable moments, including a kickboxing duel opposite Charlie Sheen in Hot Shots! Part Deux.

His career began in 1974 with an uncredited role on the TV series Kung Fu, and he later contributed to numerous films and TV shows, ranging from Rush Hour to Westworld. Tributes highlighted his impact on the martial-arts and film communities, noting his lasting presence both in front of and behind the camera.