Richard Norton (born 6 January 1950) is an Australian martial artist, stuntman and actor. After high school, Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career. He has attained a 10th Degree in Zen Do Kai, Australia. His first screen appearance was in the 1980

Chuck Norris Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championsh ...

film '' The Octagon'', and he has worked on over 80 feature films and television programs. He appeared in a number of

Martial arts films Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expre ...

, facing off against stars such as

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...

Sammo Hung use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , body_discovered = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinate ...

Yasuaki Kurata is a Japanese martial artist and actor, best known for his work in Hong Kong action films. He holds dan ranks in Karate (7th degree), Judo (3rd degree), and Aikido (2nd degree). Biography Kurata was born and raised in Sakura-mura, Niihari Di ...

Benny Urquidez Benny Urquidez (born June 20, 1952) is an American kickboxer, martial arts choreographer and actor. Nicknamed "The Jet", Urquidez was a non-contact karate competitor who later pioneered full-contact fighting in the United States. He made the tr ...

Don "The Dragon" Wilson Donald Glen Wilson (born September 10, 1954), nicknamed "The Dragon", is an American martial artist, film actor, and former professional kickboxer. An 11-time world champion who scored 47 knockouts in four decades, he has been called by the STAR ...

and

Cynthia Rothrock Cynthia is a feminine given name of Greek origin: , , "from Mount Cynthus" on Delos island. The name has been in use in the Anglosphere since the 1600s. There are various spellings for this name, and it can be abbreviated to Cindy, Cyndi, Cyndy, ...

Career

Norton worked as a personal bodyguard for

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, hav ...

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

ABBA ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The grou ...

John Belushi John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known for being one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). Throughout his c ...

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the li ...

and

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...

. Norton has been on the cover (as well as featured in editorials) of martial arts magazines including Black Belt twice (published since 1987), Australasian Fighting Arts in 1983 (published 1974 to 1998), Blitz Magazine, Impact (published 1992 to 2010) with

in 1993, and with

in 1997,

Inside Kung Fu ''Inside Kung-Fu'' was a monthly United States magazine founded in December 1973. Its last issue was in April 2011. History The magazine featured articles on modern wushu and kung fu as well as tournaments and events in the United States and ...

, MA Training (published 1988 to 2000), Martial Arts & Combat Sports (published 1999 to 2002), and Martial Arts & Combat Sports. In 2014 Norton was inducted into the

Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame The Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame is an award for Australian martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; comba ...

. He also is the Head Instructor of the Richard Norton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organisation.

Film

Norton is known for his appearances in

Hong Kong action films Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. Action films from Hong Kong have roots in Chinese and Hong Kong cultures including Chinese opera, storytelling and aesthetic traditions, which Hong ...

. Norton's Hong Kong credits include '' The Magic Crystal'', '' Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars'', ''

City Hunter is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo. It was serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991 and collected into 35 ''tankōbon'' volumes by its publisher Shueisha. The manga was adapted in ...

'' (a live-action remake of the manga), ''

Millionaire's Express Millionaires Express (, also known as ''Shanghai Express''; released in the Philippines as ''China Warriors'') is a 1986 Hong Kong martial arts western comedy film written and directed by Sammo Hung. The film stars Hung, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwa ...

'', and '' Mr. Nice Guy''. A signature catchphrase of Norton's characters is "Painful?", usually asked after striking a decisive blow. The most comical example is in ''

Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars ''Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars'' (, released in the Philippines as ''Dragon Mission'') is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film starring and directed by Sammo Hung. The film co-stars Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. It is the third installment in the ...

'', where he faces

and in the movie ''

'' against

. Over his career, Norton has faced off with many top martial arts action stars, including

(in three films, including ''City Hunter''), Sammo Hung,

, Benny "the Jet" Urquidez (in ''Kick Fighter''),

(in '' CyberTracker''), and

(in

China O'Brien ''China O'Brien'' is a 1990 martial arts film produced by Golden Harvest studios and starring actress and martial artist Cynthia Rothrock with co-stars Richard Norton and Keith Cooke. The film was directed by Robert Clouse, the fight choreograp ...

and '' Lady Dragon''). Norton served as fight coordinator on the 2007 film ''

The Condemned ''The Condemned'' is a 2007 action film written and directed by Scott Wiper. The film stars Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Tory Mussett, Madeleine West and Rick Hoffman. The film centers on ten convicts who are forced to figh ...

'' (starring

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin Steve Austin (born Steven James Anderson; December 18, 1964), better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, and retired professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most ...

and

Vinnie Jones Vincent Peter Jones (born 5 January 1965) is a British actor, presenter, and former professional footballer. Jones played professionally as a defensive midfielder from 1984 to 1999, notably for Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Ch ...

), doubling for Jones. He also starred in a contemporary drama, ''Under the Red Moon''. In August 2010, Norton appeared at Berlin Movie Con, a convention of martial arts where he was joined by ten other stars of Martial arts cinema in a two-day show. It was staged in the Universal Hall in Berlin, Germany. Among his fellow stars were

and Conan Lee.

Filmography

* '' ABBA: The Movie'' (1977) – as himself, bodyguard and fitness trainer (uncredited) * '' The Octagon'' (1980) – Kyo as also stunt-man* '' Force: Five'' (1981) – Ezekiel * ''

Forced Vengeance ''Forced Vengeance'' is a 1982 American action film, starring Chuck Norris, Mary Louise Weller and Camila Griggs. The film was directed by James Fargo, written by Franklin Thompson and James Fargo and filmed in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong a ...

'' (1982) – Herb as also a stunt-man* ''

Gymkata ''Gymkata'' is a 1985 martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse, based on Dan Tyler Moore's 1956 short story ''The Terrible Game''. It stars Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as Jonathan Cabot, an Olympic gymnast who combines his gymnastic ability ...

'' (1985) – Zamir as also a fight choreographer* ''

'' (1985) – Caucasian Assassin * '' American Ninja'' (1985) – MP (uncredited) as also stunt-man* ''

Equalizer 2000 ''Equalizer 2000'' is a 1987 action film shot in the Philippines. Plot In post-nuclear Alaska, a fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology ...

'' (1986) – Slade * ''Future Hunters'' (1986) – Matthew * ''

'' – (1986) – Bandit * ''

Magic Crystal ''The Magic Crystal'' (; released in the Philippines as ''Fight to Win'') is a 1986 Hong Kong action film written and directed by Wong Jing. The film stars Andy Lau, Max Mok and Cynthia Rothrock. Plot An important piece of document to be presen ...

'' (1987) – Karov * ''Return of the Kickfighter'' (1987) – Brad Cooper * ''The Fighter'' (1987) – Ryan Travers * '' Fight to Win'' (1987) – Armstrong * ''Not Another Mistake'' (1987) – Richard Straker * ''Jungle Assassin'' (1988) * '' Hawkeye'' (1988) * ''

Licence to Kill ''Licence to Kill'' is a 1989 spy film, the sixteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the second and final film to star Timothy Dalton as the MI6 agent James Bond. It sees Bond suspended from MI6 as he pursue ...

'' (1989) * '' The Sword of Bushido'' (1989) – Zac Connors * ''Hyper Space'' (1989) – Thomas Stanton * ''

The Blood of Heroes ''The Salute of the Jugger'' (also released as ''The Blood of Heroes'' in the United States) is a 1989 Australian-American post-apocalyptic film written and directed by David Webb Peoples, produced by Charles Roven, and starring Rutger Hauer, ...

'' (1989) – Bone lso stunt-man* ''

Blood Street ''Blood Street'' is a 1988 action film co-directed by Leo Fong. It stars Fong in a reprised role as private detective Joe Wong who has been hired to find a woman's husband who has gone missing. Richard Norton, Stan Wertlieb, Stack Pierce, Chuck ...

'' (1990) * ''

'' (1988) – Matt Conroy * '' China O'Brien II'' (1990) – Matt Conroy * ''Raiders of the Sun'' (1992) – Brodie * ''Rage and Honor'' (1992) – Preston Michaels * '' Lady Dragon'' (1992) – Ludwig Hauptman * '' Ironheart'' (1992) – Milverstead * ''

'' (1993) – MacDonald * ''Rage and Honor II'' (1993) – Preston Michaels * ''

Walker, Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film ''Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the T ...

'' (1993) – various roles, incl.; Frank Scanlon, Jonas Graves, Drug Dealer # 3, Mercenary # 1 artial arts coordinator, in at least three episodes* ''Deathfight'' (1994) – Jack Dameron * '' Direct Hit'' (1994) – Rogers * '' CyberTracker'' (1994) – Ross * ''The Supreme Warrior'' (1995) – Earth Warlord * ''Tough and Deadly'' (1995) – Agent Norton * ''

Under the Gun Under the Gun may refer to: Film and television * ''Under the Gun'' (1951 film), an American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff * ''Under the Gun'' (1995 film), an Australian action film by Matthew George * ''Under the Gun'', an Australian fi ...

'' (1995) – Frank Torrence * ''For Life or Death'' (1996) * ''Soul of the Avenger'' (1997) – Sir Xavier * '' Strategic Command'' (1997) – Carlos Gruber * ''The New Adventures of Robin Hood (TV Series)'' (1997/ 1998) – episodes; 'The Legion' ('97), Rossamar – 'Outlaw Express' ('97), Outlaw Trueco and 'Assault on Castle Dundeen' ('98), Lord Chilton lso the stunt coordinator* '' Mr. Nice Guy'' (1997) – Giancarlo Luchetti * '' Tex Murphy: Overseer'' (1998) – Big Jim Slade * ''Black Thunder'' (1998) – Rather * ''Nautilus'' (2000) – John Harris * ''The Rage Within'' (2001) – Keller * '' Amazons and Gladiators'' (2001) – Lucius lso stunt coordinator and Second Unit Director* ''Redemption'' (2002) – Tom 'Snake' Sasso * ''Dream Warrior'' (2003) – Archer lso Second Unit Director* ''Mind Games'' (2003) – Carter Tallerin * '' Road House 2'' (2006) – Victor Cross * ''Under a Red Moon'' (2008) – Jonathan Dunn * ''Man of Blood'' (2008) – Lee Francis * ''Dead in Love'' (2009) – Danny's Dad * '' Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure'' (2014) * '' Mad Max: Fury Road'' (2015) – The Prime Imperator lso the fight coordinator/ stunt performer* ''

Suicide Squad The Suicide Squad is an antihero/supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #25 (September 1959) and the second and modern version, cre ...

'' (2016) – fight coordinator * '' The Suicide Squad'' (2021) – fight coordinator * ''Rage (2021) – Detective John Bennett

Television

* '' Spartacus: War of the Damned'' (2013) – legendary gladiator Hilarus and 'personal trainer' of sorts, to

Crassus Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, ...

. (Episode: Enemies of Rome)

Martial arts experience

Norton has trained in many aspects of martial arts, including

Judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo") ...

Karate (; ; Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly Fuj ...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting ( ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

Aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in a ...

Thai boxing Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

and several Japanese weapons systems. He used this experience to co-create the hybrid martial art Zen Do Kai with fellow security guard Bob Jones. He has a 5th-Degree

Shihan is a Japanese term that is used in many Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. It can be translated as "master instructor". The use of the term is specific to a school or organization, as is the process of ...

rank Black Belt in Goju Ryu, 8th-Degree Masters rank in

Chun Kuk Do Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championshi ...

(Chuck Norris system), 5th-Degree Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 10th-degree Black Belt in Zen Do Kai Karate, an organisation of over 5,000 members. He has trained with

Tino Ceberano __NOTOC__ Constantino 'Tino' Ceberano (born 24 September 1941) is a karate master who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct student of Gōju Kai karate founder Gōgen Yamaguchi (1909–1989).Tadashi Yamashita is a Japanese American martial artist and actor. Early life Tadashi Yamashita was born in Japan in 1942, but he considers himself an Okinawan. His father died when he was three and he and his mother moved to Okinawa when he was 8, after the ...

Fumio Demura is a well known Japanese master of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry).Clayton, B. D., Horowitz, R., & Pollard, E. (2004): ''Shotokan's secret: The hidden truth behind Karate's fighting origins'' (p. 108). Black Belt Books. ()Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Pete "Sugar Foot" Cunningham,

Jean-Jacques Machado Jean Jacques Machado (born February 12, 1968) is a Brazilian Jiu jitsu practitioner. He is one of the five Machado brothers (Carlos, Roger, Rigan and John). Machado is nephew of BJJ co-founder and Grandmaster Carlos Gracie, and learne ...

and

. Norton holds seminars covering such topics as street defence, martial arts weapons drills, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on strike (attack), striking, grappling and ground f ...

. In September 2007, Norton released a two-disc DVD set on Black Belt Digital Video called ''Black Belt training Complexes''. The DVDs show Norton executing fast and accurate examples of his skill, and some additional seminar footage is also included. They focus on the development of speed, power and continuity of movement, with explanations of the principles. Norton became the fight coordinator on

in 1993. He was a minor (sometimes uncredited) character in several episodes (at least eight), and had a starring role as villainous businessman Frank Scanlon in ''The Avenging Angel''; he was in the two-part finale ''The Final Show/Down'' as Jonas Graves, part of Emile Lavocat ( Marshall R. Teague)'s criminal gang (he also appears in the "flashback" scenes illustrating the end of the Hayes Cooper legend, as part of Mills "Moon" Lavocat (also Marshall R. Teague)'s desperado gang).Fight coordinator: Walker, Texas Ranger
Retrieved 24 September 2014 Fighting Stars Magazine ranked Norton's climactic fight with Chuck Norris in The Octagon (1980) as #13 on its list of the 25 greatest fight scenes of all time.

References

External links

* of Richard Norton's Brazilian jiu-jitsu * {{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Richard Australian male film actors Australian male television actors 1950 births Living people Australian male karateka