Hollywood Stuntman James Lew Dies at 73 of Congestive Heart Failure

Hollywood stuntman James Lew died at the age of 73 from end-stage congestive heart failure, according to his death certificate. Lew passed away on Sunday, August 23, at an assisted living facility. His wife, Jordanna Potter-Lew, confirmed the news on August 24 via an Instagram post.

Lew had a prolific career, working on over 140 films and television shows. He performed stunts and choreographed action sequences for well-known titles including "Rush Hour," "Lethal Weapon 4," "Big Trouble in Little China," "Timecop," and "Star Trek." One of his notable on-screen moments was a Rambo parody fight with Charlie Sheen in "Hot Shots! Part Deux."

In 2017, Lew received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series for his work on Marvel's "Luke Cage." He began his career in the early 1970s, starting with the TV series "Kung Fu," and later starred as Shao Lung in "The Young Dragon" in 1976.

Throughout his career, Lew received multiple accolades, including being voted Favorite Action Star by Inside Martial Arts magazine in 1995 and inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Martial Arts History Museum. He was also recognized as one of the Martial Arts Greats by Kung Fu Magazine. According to IMDb, his formula for success in the film industry was "diversity, hard work and having a whole lot of fun."

Black Belt magazine described Lew as "humble, gracious, funny, passionate and always happy to be surrounded by the martial arts community." Reports indicated that he spent his final days surrounded by friends.

Fans and colleagues shared tributes following the news of his passing. One fan noted meeting him two weeks prior at Dragon Fest, calling him a "legendary GOAT in martial arts." Bodybuilder Janine Avanti honored Lew on Instagram, calling him a "great inspiration and warrior."