Richard Norton, a legendary Hollywood trainer and bodyguard, fight choreographer, stuntman and actor in the Mad Max franchise, has died at the age of 75, his wife Judy Green announced on Instagram.
“I am numb and devastated, I have no words I have lost my everything,” she wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of her, Norton and their Husky. “I know there is, and will be lots of love and shock that we have lost this incredible human being. The love of my life. I’m using this time to come to terms with my great loss.”
In the comments, colleagues like Charlee Fraser, who worked with Norton on Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, offered, “Sending so much love and light to you Rich!” The Boys star Karen Fukuhara and James Gunn, both of whom worked alongside Norton as he coordinated fights for 2016’s Suicide Squad and 2021’s The Suicide Squad, respectively, offered their condolences.
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The Australia native had an early fascination with martial arts, soon becoming an expert and eventually taking jobs as a bodyguard to the likes of The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Mick Jagger, ABBA and Linda Ronstadt, who encouraged him to venture into Hollywood. Renowned in the field, he has also trained such stars as Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron, Anya Taylor-Joy, Margot Robbie, Liam Neeson and more.
Norton’s first role was in 1980’s The Octagon, playing the antagonist ninja Kyo opposite friend and collaborator Chuck Norris. He would go on to fight against martial artist Sammo Hung in 1985’s Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, paving the way for future forays into Hong Kong productions with Jackie Chan, including 1993’s City Hunter and 1997’s Mr. Nice Guy, directed by Hung. In 2015, Norton appeared as The Prime Imperator in Mad Max: Fury Road, later reprising the role in the 2024 prequel film led by Taylor-Joy.
Gunn posted a lengthy tribute to Norton on X, writing: “Richard Norton was a wonderfully talented stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He was also a friend. I met Richard as the fight choreographer on The Suicide Squad; he choreographed the Harley escape scene, Peacemaker vs Rick Flag Jr. and more. He was a tough but sweet Australian dude with a hearty laugh and a million stories about his years making movies. I’d constantly grill him for tales about working on the 90’s Hong Kong movies we both loved so much, and he was always happy to oblige. Richard seemed twenty years younger than he was so I was particularly surprised to wake up this morning to hear of his passing. My love goes out to his entire family, all his friends and coworkers who adored him, and especially his wife Judy, who he always spoke of with even more gusto than when discussing exchanging onscreen blows with Jackie Chan. The film world will be a less vibrant place without him. Rest in Peace, friend.”
Actor Robert Patrick added in a post, alongside a video of the two from last year: “I am deeply saddened to share that my friend Richard Norton has passed away at the age of 76 [sic]. He was an extraordinary individual, a towering figure in the martial arts community, and a contemporary of Chuck Norris. In addition to his impressive career as a highly sought-after bodyguard for rock stars, he made his mark as an accomplished fight coordinator on major films. More than that, he was a wonderful human being, and I feel fortunate to have shared the screen with him in ‘Equalizer 2000.’ My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Judy, and his family during this difficult time.”
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