As The Fall Man has taught us, stuntpeople usually do not get their due. And few stuntpeople, it appears, had been as beloved as Richard Norton, the Australian martial arts professional, actor, and battle choreographer, identified for his work staging stunts and coaching actors concerned in among the greatest blockbusters. Which is why it is so heartening to see such an outpouring of affection and admiration for Norton, whose dying was confirmed by his spouse, Judy, on Sunday in a put up on Instagram.
Norton labored alongside among the greats of his period, together with Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris. He additionally skilled actors like Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron, Sophie Turner, Anya Taylor-Pleasure, Ben Affleck, Margot Robbie, Charlie Hunnam, Liam Neeson and plenty of extra, for roles in numerous movies. He served as a battle choreographer on movies like Mad Max: Fury Street and Darkish Phoenix, in addition to the 2016 and 2021 Suicide Squad motion pictures. He did the identical for all the run of Walker, Texas Ranger (when it starred the aforementioned Norris, a very good buddy of his). He acted in a number of movies, together with tackling the function of The Prime Imperator in Mad Max: Fury Street and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
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“I’m numb and devastated, I’ve no phrases I’ve misplaced my all the pieces,” the caption from Judy reads. “I do know there’s, and will probably be plenty of love and shock that we’ve misplaced this unimaginable human being. The love ❤️ of my life. I’m utilizing this time to come back to phrases with my nice loss.”
Richard Norton Was Beloved In Hollywood For A long time
Director James Gunn posted his personal tribute to Norton on X, writing:
“Richard Norton was a splendidly proficient stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He was additionally a buddy. I met Richard because the battle choreographer on ‘The Suicide Squad’; he choreographed the Harley escape scene, Peacemaker vs Rick Flag Jr. and extra. He was a tricky however candy Australian dude with a hearty snicker and 1,000,000 tales about his years making motion pictures. I would continually grill him for tales about engaged on the 90’s Hong Kong motion pictures we each beloved a lot, and he was all the time completely happy to oblige. Richard appeared twenty years youthful than he was so I used to be significantly shocked to get up this morning to listen to of his passing. My love goes out to his whole household, all his pals and coworkers who adored him, and particularly his spouse Judy, who he all the time spoke of with much more gusto than when discussing exchanging onscreen blows with Jackie Chan. The movie world will probably be a much less vibrant place with out him. Relaxation in Peace, buddy. ❤️”
1923 actor Richard Patrick additionally posted a observe on social media to associate with a video of the 2 males reconnecting in August 2024:
“I’m deeply saddened to share that my buddy Richard Norton has handed away on the age of 75. He was a unprecedented particular person, a towering determine within the martial arts group, and a recent of Chuck Norris. Along with his spectacular profession as a extremely sought-after bodyguard for rock stars, he made his mark as an completed battle coordinator on main movies. Greater than that, he was an exquisite human being, and I really feel lucky to have shared the display screen with him in ‘Equalizer 2000.’ My heartfelt ideas and prayers exit to his spouse, Judy, and his household throughout this tough time.”
As Patrick talked about in his caption, Norton additionally lived one other life as a bodyguard to among the greatest names in music throughout his early days. The Rolling Stones, ABBA, David Bowie, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, and even comic John Belushi had been all recipients of Norton’s guarding, due to his proficiency in a number of martial arts types, together with boxing, judo, wrestling, and Zen Do Kai, a mode of which he’s credited as co-creator. Norton is survived by his spouse, Judy.
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