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Richard Norton (actor)

Richard Norton (born 6 January 1950) is an Australian martial artist, actor, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, security consultant, and fight choreographer. He holds a 5th dan black belt in Gōjū-ryū karate, a 6th dan black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an 8th dan black belt in Chun Kuk Do, and a level 6 ranking in American kickboxing. After high school, Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career.

Richard appeared as a body guard in the 1977 ABBA movie, as they toured his native country, Australia. He had a very minor speaking part.

His first movie screen appearance was in the 1980 Chuck Norris film The Octagon, and he has worked on over 80 feature films and television programs. He appeared in a number of martial arts films, facing off against stars such as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yasuaki Kurata, Benny Urquidez, Don Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock, and has worked as fight choreographer for titles like The Condemned (2007), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Suicide Squad (2016), Dark Phoenix (2019) and The Suicide Squad (2021).

With fellow karateka Bob Jones, Norton is the co-creator of Zen Do Kai, a hybrid self-defense martial art intended for the security industry. He is also the head of Richard Norton BJJ.

Early life and training

Norton was born in the Croydon suburb of Sydney, Australia in 1950. He began studying Judo at the age of 11, and later took up Gōjū-ryū karate, earning his black belt at the age of 17. In 1970, he was hired by Bob Jones as the chief instructor for his Melbourne dojo, which later developed into Zen Do Kai, while also working as a security guard.

He cross-trained in various arts including Brazilian jiu-jitsu (under the Machado brothers), Chun Kuk Do (under Chuck Norris) and Ukidokan kickboxing (under Pete Cunningham and Benny Urquidez), as well as aikido, judo, Muay Thai and kobudo.

He has trained with Tino Ceberano, Tadashi Yamashita, Fumio Demura, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Jean-Jacques Machado and Chuck Norris.

Career

Norton entered the entertainment industry as a personal bodyguard for The Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Bowie, ABBA, John Belushi, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks.

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 Cynthia Rothrock in 1993, and with Jackie Chan in 1997, Inside Kung Fu, 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.

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. His Hong Kong credits include The Magic Crystal, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, City Hunter (a live-action remake of the manga), Millionaire's Express, 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, where he faces Sammo Hung and in the movie Millionaire's Express against Yasuaki Kurata.

Norton became the fight coordinator on Walker, Texas Ranger 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).

Over his career, Norton has faced off with many top martial arts action stars, including Jackie Chan (in three films, including City Hunter), Sammo Hung, Yasuaki Kurata, Benny "the Jet" Urquidez (in Kick Fighter), Don "The Dragon" Wilson (in CyberTracker), and Cynthia Rothrock (in China O'Brien and Lady Dragon). 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.

Norton served as fight coordinator on the 2007 film The Condemned (starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones), 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 Cynthia Rothrock, Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Conan Lee.

Martial arts experience

Norton has trained in many aspects of martial arts, including Judo, Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Thai boxing 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 rank Black Belt in Goju Ryu, 8th-Degree Masters rank in Chun Kuk Do (Chuck Norris system), 6th-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, Tadashi Yamashita, Fumio Demura, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Pete "Sugar Foot" Cunningham, Jean-Jacques Machado and Chuck Norris.

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

Filmography

ABBA: The Movie (1977) – as himself, bodyguard and fitness trainer (uncredited)
The Octagon (1980) – Kyo [was also stunt-man]
Force: Five (1981) – Ezekiel
Forced Vengeance (1982) – Herb [was also a stunt-man]
Gymkata (1985) – Zamir [was also a fight choreographer]
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) – Caucasian Assassin
American Ninja (1985) – MP (uncredited) [was also stunt-man]
Equalizer 2000 (1986) – Slade
Future Hunters (1986) – Matthew
Millionaire's Express – (1986) – Bandit
Magic Crystal (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 (1989) {007 film, no. 16}
The Sword of Bushido (1989) – Zac Connors
Hyper Space (1989) – Thomas Stanton
The Blood of Heroes (1989) – Bone [also stunt-man]
Blood Street (1990)
China O'Brien (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
City Hunter (1993) – MacDonald
Rage and Honor II (1993) – Preston Michaels
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) – various roles, incl.; Frank Scanlon, Jonas Graves, Desperado, Drug Dealer # 3, Mercenary # 1 [martial 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 (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 [also 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 [also stunt coordinator and Second Unit Director]
Redemption (2002) – Tom 'Snake' Sasso
Dream Warrior (2003) – Archer [also 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 [also the fight coordinator/ stunt performer]
Suicide Squad (2016) – fight coordinator
The Suicide Squad (2021) – fight coordinator
Rage (2021) – Detective John Bennett
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) – The Prime Imperator [also the fight choreographer/ fight coordinator]
Black Creek (2024) – Damien Sinclair