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Joycelyne Lew

Joycelyne Lew

Actor, also producer · Born February 25, 1946 (80) · Los Angeles County, California, USA

If academic degrees guaranteed a high paying, stable career in Hollywood, Joycelyne Lew would be at the top of the acting pyramid. Like every good actress, however, she knows that she must dedicate her life to the pursuit of her art, regardless of diplomas earned. The passion to make a career in acting isn't fueled by logic. Joycelyne grew up in Culver City, California, near the back lots of MGM Studios. Long before she was born, her father was often a chauffeur to Hollywood luminaries like Lucille Ball, Anita Loos, and Jean Harlow. Her mother was a movie extra, who eventually played Marlon Brando's mother-in-law in the film "Sayonara," and both her parents worked for actor William Holden for a time. Joycelyne started accompanying her mother to the studios by the time she was three years old; and began long-begged for lessons in ballet, tap, and acrobatics. A career in entertainment seemed inevitable, as she was a top child model by the time she was 12. Although thoroughly hooked on entertainment, Joycelyne followed the wishes of her parents and the traditions of many Asian-American families, by giving up her budding career and going to school. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts at UCLA, with a certificate in teaching; and a Master's Degree in Education from Pepperdine University. She began a teaching career in elementary education. Never giving up her dream of a career in the entertainment industry, she tried to have both, which soon proved impossible. She would often have to rush to and from auditions and jobs, making complete changes of clothing, hairstyles, and make-up while driving, as she once did while enroute to an appearance on "The Tonight Show." Eventually, she abandoned the classroom for the soundstage. Joycelyne began appearing in films, such as Fatal Beauty (1987) with Whoopi Goldberg, Tai-Pan (1986), Hindsight (1996), Shattered Image (1994), and a lead in Battle Creek Brawl (1980) AKA: The Big Brawl, for which she received excellent reviews. She had the largest part ever given a woman in the Kung Fu (1972) television series; and other television credits include The Golden Girls (1985), Married... with Children (1987), General Hospital (1963), and The Young and the Restless (1973). She has been recognized and listed in "The Who's Who of Women", and she is on the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Emmy Awards, and the National Endowment for the Arts Judging Committee for Film Grants. Joycelyne's physical assets have helped keep her busy as a hand and leg model in commercials for dozens of products, from poking Pillsbury's Doughboy, to providing legs for Kim Basinger's billboard. She even did Dream Dresser's lingerie catalog! Weight lifting helps keep her in shape; and her body has been shown in "Allure", "Muscle and Fitness", "Fitness",; and "Hardbodies" magazines. She has been featured on numerous programs, like "E! Entertainment", "Current Affair", and "Hard Copy" shows in the U.S., to "Peep" in Germany, and a British documentary for September Films in England, as well as "Live It Up!" in Canada. Her ability to mimic characters using many accents has led to her demand as a voice-over artist. Joycelyne re-dubbed the lead in Bernie Casey's directoral debut, The Dinner (1997). She also has done cartoon voices for Hanna Barbara, industrial narrations, trailers for features, commercials, and dramas on National Public Radio.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 25, 1946 (80)
From
Los Angeles County, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are Joycelyne Lew's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 1st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
41%
Bonds
14%
Self
13%
Ideas
10%
Morality
10%
Society
7%
Power
3%
Survival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 2 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 5 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 3

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
7
Absurd
2
Melancholic
2
Hopeful
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Unsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joycelyne Lew's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joycelyne Lew's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Devil's Disciple: The Night Stalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Lillian Doi

  • Mothman Vs Bigfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Makeup & Hair

  • Midnight Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Makeup & Hair · as Nurse

  • Sudden Light(2026)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lifeforms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Nurse Lue

  • Return To The Dark House Of Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Makeup & Hair

  • A Man Is Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Apex Predators 2: The Spawning(2024)

    Key Makeup Artist

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Blow Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Key Makeup Artist · as Sora

  • House On Haunted Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Makeup & Hair

  • Bolero(2024)

    as Kinson

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Space Sharks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Key Makeup Artist

  • Crack: Back in Da Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Makeup Artist

  • The Dark House of Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Nurse

  • Spider Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Makeup & Hair

  • Mega Ape(2023)

    Makeup Artist

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Raiders of The Lost Leche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Evil Lyne

  • Liza's Palace of Pleasure and Pain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Hairstylist · Makeup Artist

  • Amityville Emanuelle(2023)

    as May

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Murderbot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Hairstylist · Makeup Artist

  • Cobra Strike Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Key Makeup Artist

  • Doll Killer 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Makeup & Hair · as Nurse Betty

  • Demon Predator(2022)

    Key Makeup Artist

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Call Me Emanuelle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Mika

  • Amityville Uprising(2022)

    as Mrs. Chen

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Last Roommate: The New Seduction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Makeup & Hair

  • The Deceased Won't Desist!(2021)

    as Asian Wife in Ad

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Christmas Love(2020)

    as Madame Norma

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Choke(2020)

    as Ottavia

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Acrylic(2020)

    as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Body of Night(2020)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Heartbeat(2020)

    as Georgina Chow

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Holy Terror(2017)

    Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Match.con (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Prostitute 2

  • Natural Born Filmmakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Producer · as Cian / Countess

  • Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance(2015)

    as Lady Okamura

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Micky's Summer Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Mrs. Kajihara

  • Nipples & Palm Trees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Sue

  • Mad Cowgirl(2006)

    as Maria, The Nightclub Singer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Taxi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as The Killer Wife

  • The Underground Comedy Movie(1999)

    as Sushi Mama

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Ride with the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Killer Wife

  • Evil Obsession(1996)

    Costume Design

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Total Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Charming Hostess #2

  • Hindsight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Masseuse

  • The Deadly Cure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Mrs. Lee

  • Badlanders(1992)

    as Slave Girl

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Overkill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Yakuza Woman

  • Fatal Beauty(1987)

    as Chinese Mother

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • They Still Call Me Bruce(1987)

    Script Consultant

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Tai-Pan(1986)

    as Beaten Whore

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Revenge of the Stolen Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Maid

  • Battle Creek Brawl(1980)

    as Miss Wong

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington(1977)

    as Chinese Reporter

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Women Unchained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Kem

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The King and I(1956)

    as Princess Ying Yaawolak (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 51st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1956 to 2026; peak year 1980.

Highest rated

Heartbeat (2020)

Midcredits 50th

Most popular right now

Sudden Light (2026)

Film career

19562026

Peak 1980 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 56: 36 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score31stWriting1 of 56: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing2 of 56: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew17 of 56: 14 only other crew, 3 with another role

56 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew1990s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2000s1 · acting2010s6 · 5 acting · 2 crew2020s31 · 18 acting · 16 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Joycelyne Lew's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 2nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

2ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive4
  • Crowd Pleaser1
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Bolero (2024)

98th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The King and I (1956)

Midcredits 89th · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 32/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 18. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Joycelyne Lew work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joycelyne Lew's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gregory Hatanaka shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers