Lewis Tan
Birth nameLewis Singwah Tan
Birth dateFebruary 4, 1987 (age 39)
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom · United States
Birth placeSalford, England
OccupationActor · stuntman · model
Years active2006–present

Lewis Singwah Tan (born February 4, 1987) is a British actor, martial artist and model.[1][2][3]

He is known for his roles as Kung Jin in Mortal Kombat X: Generations, Cole Young in Mortal Kombat, Rusty / Shatterstar in Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, Tolya in Shadow and Bone, Feng Xiao/Sensei Wolf in Cobra Kai, and Lu Xin Lee in Wu Assassins.

Early life

Tan was born in Salford, Greater Manchester on February 4, 1987, the eldest of four sons to Joanne Cassidy, an English retired fashion model, and Philip Tan, a Chinese Singaporean martial artist, actor, and stunt coordinator.[4][5][6][7] Tan's father trained him in martial arts from a young age. His brother Sam is an actor, his brother Ben is a director, and his brother Evan is a photographer.

At the age of one year, Tan's family moved from England to Los Angeles when his father was hired as a fight coordinator for Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman.[1] He also lived in China, France, and Spain growing up. Tan began training in theatre in his early teens.[8][9][10][11]

Career

Tan had small supporting roles in films such as The Hangover Part III and Olympus Has Fallen.[12] He began working on television shows such as ', ', NCIS: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-0, 24, and Rush Hour.[12]

In 2016, Tan was cast in a guest role in the first season of the Netflix television series Iron Fist. He starred in the role of Zhou Cheng. In the same year, Tan was cast in the action film Den of Thieves starring Gerard Butler.[13]

In 2018, Tan starred as Shatterstar in the superhero film Deadpool 2.[14] Tan also starred as Gaius Chau in the third season of the AMC television series Into the Badlands.[15] In the same year, it was announced that Tan was cast in the series regular role of Lu Xin Lee on the Netflix crime drama series, Wu Assassins.[16] Tan reprised his role in the sequel film Fistful of Vengeance;[17] it was released on 17 February 2022.[18]

In August 2019, Tan was cast in the Mortal Kombat reboot as Cole Young.[19][20][21] The film was released on 23 April 2021.[22][23] He was previously involved with the Mortal Kombat media franchise when he underwent filming as Kung Jin for the unreleased web series Mortal Kombat X: Generations; Tan was recruited for the role by Garrett Warren, an experienced action director for live action media productions.[24][25][12] He reprised the role in the sequel film Mortal Kombat II.[26]

In April 2021, Tan was cast in the leading role of CIA officer Harris Chang on the upcoming television adaptation based on The Quantum Spy thriller novel by David Ignatius.[27] In May 2021, Tan was cast alongside Emma Roberts in the romantic comedy About Fate, which was directed by Marius Balčiūnas-Weisberg.[28]

In January 2022, it was announced that Tan would play Tolya Yul-Bataar in the second season of Netflix's Shadow and Bone.[29][30]

In 2024, Tan was revealed to have joined the sixth season of Cobra Kai as a rival sensei.[31]

Tan is known for performing his own stunts, using multiple styles including Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Ju-Jitsu, and Japanese katana swordplay.[9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftStunts
Mini's First TimeSkatepunk #2
2007Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndStunts
2008Red VelvetManiac
2013Olympus Has FallenKorean commandoStunts
The Hangover Part IIIPrison guardStunts
2015SacrificeBen Kittman
2018Den of ThievesSecret Service Lobby Guard #1
Deadpool 2Rusty / Shatterstar
2019JiJiShort film
2021Mortal KombatCole Young
2022Fistful of VengeanceLu Xin Lee
About FateKip
BabylonParty Attendee
2024Deadpool & WolverineRusty / Shatterstar
2025Safe HouseAgent Choi
WildcatRoman
2026Mike & Nick & Nick & AliceRoid Rage Ryan
Mortal Kombat IICole Young

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006'Kym Tanaka
2007Day BreakJimmy YanStunt double
24Stunt double
2010'Aiko Okanagi
2011NCIS: Los AngelesHiro Yakuza
The ProtectorZachary
2013The GirlfriendBruce Wayne / BatmanShort
201410,000 DaysJiro FarnwellTelevision film
2015Hawaii Five-0Luke NakanoSeason 6, Ep. 10: Ka Makau Kaa Kaua
2016Rush HourChenEpisode 5
2017Iron FistZhou ChengSeason 1, Ep. 8: "The Blessing of Many Fractures"
2018–2019Into the BadlandsGaius ChauMain cast (Season 3)
2019Wu AssassinsLu Xin LeeMain cast
2022Bling EmpireHimself
2023Shadow and BoneTolya Yul-BataarMain cast (Season 2)
2024–2025Cobra KaiFeng Xiao / Sensei WolfRecurring role (Season 6)
TBAQuantum SpyHarris ChangLead role

References

  1. ^ "Lewis Tan | The Dao of an Assassin". www.flaunt.com. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  2. ^ "Lewis Tan | Contributors". SXSW 2026 Schedule. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  3. ^ "Lewis Tan's Family Business". Television Academy. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  4. ^ Pun, Catherine (2025-01-07). "Cover Story: Lewis Tan On His Leap Into A New Era". Friday Club. Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  5. ^ Hayer, Taj (8 October 2020). "SPOTLIGHT: Mr Lewis Tan". The Rakish Gent. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ Duan, Virginia (3 September 2019). "The Underlying Truth: An Interview with Lewis Tan". Mochi. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^ Yamato, Jen (24 April 2021). "'Something to prove': In 'Mortal Kombat,' Lewis Tan aims for more than movie stardom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ^ Delgado, Sara (18 May 2018). "Interview - Lewis Tan". Schon Magazine. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  9. ^ Slaughter, Melissa (7 March 2018). "Interview: Actor Lewis Tan". Hapamag. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  10. ^ Goulakos, Katina & Williams, Michelle. "Lewis Tan". Imagista. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  11. ^ Bonnet, Alexandra (7 August 2019). "Lewis Tan". Vulkan Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  12. ^ Francisco, Eric (20 April 2018). "The Man Who Was Almost Iron Fist Trained with Wonder Woman". Inverse. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Biography". Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  14. ^ Schmidt, Joseph (28 March 2018). "'Deadpool 2': Lewis Tan of 'Iron Fist' Playing Shatterstar". Comicbook. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (26 September 2017). "'Into The Badlands': Sherman Augustus, Babou Ceesay & Ella Rae-Smith Join Season 3 As Series Regulars". Deadline. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (20 July 2018). "'Wu Assassins': Katheryn Winnick, Lewis Tan, Tommy Flanagan & Tzi Ma Join Netflix Martial Arts Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  17. ^ Petski, Denise (26 February 2021). "'Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Set At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  18. ^ Massoto, Erick (January 20, 2022). "'Fistful of Vengeance' Trailer Reveals the 'Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Coming to Netflix". Collider. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  19. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (26 August 2019). "Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson Join 'Mortal Kombat' At New Line". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. ^ Romano, Nick (15 January 2021). "Mortal Kombat first look: Inside the R-rated reboot, fatalities and all". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  21. ^ Vesty, Helena (May 3, 2020). "Ordsall's Mr Iron Fist: Mortal Kombat star Lewis Tan on how Greater Manchester made him". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  22. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (30 March 2021). "'Mortal Kombat' Release Date Pushed Back". Variety. Archived March 30, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  23. ^ Haring, Bruce (11 December 2019). "'Mortal Kombat' Release Date Moved Up To Midwinter 2021 – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  24. ^ Macias, Gil (April 27, 2021). "Mortal Kombat Star Lewis Tan Weighs In On Who Should Play Johnny Cage And Teases A Risque Scene In Fistful Of Vengeance - Exclusive Interview". Looper.com
  25. ^ September 02, Nick Romano & EDT, 2019 at 11:00 AM. "Meet the 'Mortal Kombat' cast and their video game characters". EW.com
  26. ^ "Mortal Kombat 2 May Already Be Replacing Cole Young After Just 1 Movie". Screen Rant. May 19, 2025. Archived 2025-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  27. ^ Donnelly, Matt (19 April 2021). "'Mortal Kombat' Star Lewis Tan to Lead David Ignatius Series Adaptation 'Quantum Spy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (11 May 2021). "'Mortal Kombat' Star Lewis Tan Joins Emma Roberts In 'About Fate'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  29. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (January 13, 2022). "'Shadow & Bone':'Mortal Kombat' Star Lewis Tan & 'The OA's Patrick Gibson Among Four Added To Season 2 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  30. ^ Murphy, J. Kim (January 13, 2022). "'Shadow and Bone' Season 2 Adds Lewis Tan and Three More to Cast". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  31. ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 17, 2024). "Lewis Tan Joins 'Cobra Kai' Season 6, Part 2, as Sensei Wolf". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 16, 2024.