Star Trek and Marvel star d!es as devastated fans pay tribute
Beloved Hollywood stuntman James Lew has died at the age of 73 (Image: Albert L Ortega/Shutterstock)
Beloved Hollywood stuntman James Lew has sadly died at the age of 73. The tragic news was shared by his doting wife, Jordanna Potter-Lew, who shared an emotional tribute to the star on Instagram on Tuesday (August 25). She penned: “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. 8/23/26.” His cause of death is yet to be announced, but the film star faced an unknown health issue before his passing. It is understood that he spent his final days “surrounded by friends” in Los Angeles, where he lived for most of his life.
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He worked on some of the biggest blockbusters on screen, including Avengers: Endgame (Image: Getty Images)
Throughout his career, Lew has worked on more than 140 shows and films, including blockbuster hits such as Inception, Rush Hour, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Trek. His first TV credit came in 1974 when he played a monk and performed stunts on an episode of ABC’s Kung Fu, and it didn’t take long for his career to take off.
He went on to appear in John Cassavetes’ The Killing of a Chinese Bookie in 1976, and in the Hong Kong movie, The Young Dragon in 1979. But he didn’t just work as a stuntman, he also took centre stage as an actor.
Fans of the star will recall one particularly memorable scene in the parody Rambo in a fight with Charlie Sheen for Hot Shots! Part Deux. Lew’s discography includes all genres, from comedies like 2008’s Tropic Thunder to superhero classics such as Avengers: Endgame and Nolan’s Inception. In 2017, the stuntman took home an Emmy Award for outstanding stunt coordination in a drama series for his work on Marvel’s Luke Cage show.
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The film star once said in an interview: “My lifelong adventure into martial arts began when I was 14 years old. It was part of a natural discovery and curiosity that I decided to ‘try’ training in the martial arts.” In a tribute shared by Black Belt magazine, Lew was described as “humble, gracious, funny, passionate and always happy to be surrounded by the martial arts community.”
The stuntman was was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 2024 (Image: Getty Images)
Elsewhere, bodybuilder Janine Avanti shared a snap with the stuntman, followed by a touching tribute, which read: “You will be missed, James. We are so grateful for your talents and love for the Arts and The Screen. You were a great inspiration and warrior. Today, we honour you and send prayers to your family for comfort and peace. May you rest in heavenly peace. It was an honour, my friend. Godspeed.”
The Big Trouble in Little China choreographer was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame back in 2024 after working in the entertainment industry since the 1970s.
