Lew was an Emmy award-winning stunt coordinator.
The Star Trek fandom suffered yet another loss on the heels of Leslie Parrish’s death being revealed and confirmed over the last weekend. Unfortunately, actor and stunt aficionado James Lew died on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the age of 73. Lew first worked in the beloved science fiction franchise as a stunt coordinator on the season 6 episode of Voyager titled “Tsunkatse.”
For those Star Trek fans who may be new to the fandom, “Tsunkatse” is the famed Voyager installment that guest-starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as The Champion, who battled Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine in an intergalactic version of what resembles modern-day UFC fighting. And Lew was the stunt coordinator behind all the on-screen magic. Lew’s friend and colleague Mike Colter revealed the Hollywood legend’s passing in an Instagram post on Monday, Aug. 24, by writing:
“🕊️ 😢Just got the call that James Lew, the emmy winning stunt coordinator for @marvelslukecage has passed. I saw him last year and it was as if no time had passed. We reminisced and talked about the 1st season of #lukecage and how much fun we had and how little sleep we got. 😩😬😅We planned to connect and have breakfast by the beach when we had a moment. I saw him a few days later and we chatted again at an event in his neighborhood. Not long after that I received a call from a mutual friend saying he was in the hospital.”
Colter worked with Lew on the Netflix series Luke Cage based on the Marvel superhero of the same name prior to the Disney+ lineup of MCU TV content. During their collaboration on the Marvel show, Lew won a Primetime Emmy in 2017 (Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie) for his outstanding work. Colter continued by writing the following in the same social media post:
“I gave him a call to check in and he seemed to be in good spirits. He said it was a wake up call to slow down. He looked forward to getting back on his feet and he did. But now he's gone. Condolences to his family and friends. He was a really good dude and i'm glad to be a footnote in his legacy and his career. Glad to call him a friend. Rest easy man. You will be missed. I shed a tear for you now but I will smile whenever your name is mentioned. 🫡 #jameslew #lukecage #emmywinner ❤️”
Nine years after Lew’s contributions to Voyager’s must-see “Tsunkatse,” he returned to the Star Trek universe as both a stunt performer and actor in the first of J.J. Abrams’ Kelvin Timeline Treks. Although Lew was uncredited, he appeared on screen as one of the Romulans serving under the command of Captain Nero (Eric Bana) aboard the deadly mining vessel, the Narada.
Lew was a prolific actor and stunt genius whose career spanned over 50 years in Hollywood. He first worked in both capacities in the classic television series Kung Fu, starring David Carradine. However, Lew’s most prolific work as a thespian came on another beloved TV show, The A-Team, in which he portrayed a total of five different characters in guest-starring roles.
Lew’s work includes some of the most recognizable titles to hit theaters, including a little movie called Avengers: Endgame (stunts), Tropic Thunder (a member of Flaming Dragon), and one of my personal favorites: Lethal Weapon 4.
Unfortunately, despite a thrilling rooftop chase through the city, Lew’s Lethal Weapon character (the freighter captain) runs into Jet Li’s Wah Sing Ku, whose fighting skills prove deadly for his opponent. It’s a brief and one-sided fight, but one I’ll never forget thanks to the authenticity Lew and Li brought to the unforgettable scene, which seemed so real!
The Redshirts Always Die and FanSided teams are truly saddened to hear of James Lew’s death, and we would like to pass on our condolences to those closest to the actor and stunt genius, including his family and friends. For more Star Trek content, and to remember Mr. Lew, please visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Rest in Peace.
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