Hollywood stunt legend James Lew, whose high-flying career included work on everything from “Star Trek” and “Rush Hour” to Marvel’s “Luke Cage,” has died at 73.
The Emmy-winning stuntman and martial artist died Sunday, Aug. 23, following a battle with unspecified health problems, his wife, Jordanna Potter, confirmed.
Potter shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional Instagram tribute, imagining her husband reunited with loved ones and even sparring with martial arts icon Bruce Lee.
“Honey I imagine you walking the beach with Dudley, sparring with Bruce Lee and finally getting to hug your Dad again,” she wrote. “James MF Lew you are loved and will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.”
In another touching post, Potter shared a photo of the couple during what appeared to be a hike in Hawaii.
“I hope you’re sitting on the shores of Kauai with Dudley and Floyd, watching the waves, eating poke and humming some Israel Kamakawiwoʻole,” she wrote. “Rest easy honey.”
Lew built a remarkable career performing the kind of dangerous, pulse-pounding action scenes that helped make some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and television shows unforgettable.
Raised in Los Angeles, Lew reportedly got his start with an uncredited stunt role on the hit 1970s television series “Kung Fu.”
From there, his career exploded.
Lew starred in 1979’s “The Young Dragon” and later served as a martial arts choreographer on the 1986 cult classic “Big Trouble in Little China.”
Over the decades, he worked on blockbuster projects including “Rush Hour,” Christopher Nolan’s “Inception,” “Star Trek,” “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Timecop” and “Avengers: Endgame.”
But one of Lew’s biggest career triumphs came through Marvel’s “Luke Cage.”
His work on the Netflix series earned him the 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding stunt coordination for a drama series, limited series or movie.
Lew also received several other Emmy nominations during his long career.
His lengthy résumé included appearances and stunt work on “Teen Wolf,” “Best of the Best,” “Hot Shots! Part Deux,” “18 Fingers of Death!” and dozens of other productions.
Even in his 70s, Lew remained active in Hollywood.
His most recent credited project was “Busboys,” released earlier this year, while IMDb lists several additional projects in various stages of production.
Lew leaves behind a Hollywood legacy stretching across more than five decades — and countless action sequences that movie and television fans may have watched without ever realizing the fearless stuntman behind them.
