The world of action and martial arts films have lost a legend of the industry.

Richard Norton, Australian-born martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and world renowned stunt coordinator, passed away in Melbourne, Australia early March 30th at the age of 75. The news was announced by wife, actress Judy Green.

Born in Australia, according to a 1994 interview with Burton Richardson, Richard Norton began training in martial arts after he was diagnosed with asthma. Trained in Judo and Goju-Ryu Karate to start, Norton would begin learning a variety of styles. Becoming friends with living legend Chuck Norris, he would train in Chun Kuk Do, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Muay Thai, Kobudo, Benny “the Jet” Urquidez’s Ukidokan system, and American Kickboxing.

In the 1970s, Norton began working as a personal trainer and bodyguard for music groups who toured in Australia. He was seen in ABBA: The Movie as both the bodyguard and personal trainer to both Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad. He has also worked with Fleetwood Mac during this period in the same capacity.

In 1980, Norton appeared opposite his longtime friend and teacher Chuck Norris as the masked main antagonist in The Octagon, followed by a brief role in Forced Vengeance. In 1985, Norton would appear in a brief role in American Ninja (as a U.S. serviceman killed by a ninja) and the main antagonist of the cult classic Gymkata, also serving as a fight coordinator.

Norton would then go to Hong Kong where he got to show off his skills against Sammo Hung in Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars and Yasuaki Kurata in Millionaires’ Express. 1986’s Magic Crystal and the aforementioned Millionaires’ Express would mark the first two collaborations between Norton and Cynthia Rothrock. The duo would appear together in the China O’Brien and Rage and Honor franchises as well as facing off against each other in Lady Dragon. He would also appear in Fight to Win and Hawkeye, featuring martial arts champion George Chung in the lead roles with Rothrock appearing in the former.

Norton would also work in Filipino and Indonesian martial arts films such as Rage (aka Deathfight), The Fighter (aka Kick Fighter) and Future Hunters (one of the first films featuring future Terminator 2 breakout Robert Patrick). In 1992, Norton returned to Hong Kong to play the lead villain Donald Mac in the first live-action adaptation of Tsubasa Hojo’s iconic City Hunter manga, with Jackie Chan in the lead. The two would rematch five years later in Mr. Nice Guy, shot and set in Australia.

In 1995, Norton starring in the Australian martial arts thriller Under the Gun, playing a club owner who fights his way against thugs to avoid a debt. In the 2000s, he started appearing in sporadic films, including a villain road in Road House 2 and Under a Red Moon. He would focus more on becoming a trainer again and stunt coordinator on films such as Suicide Squad and Mad Max: Fury Road. In 2024, he reprised his role from Fury Road as the Prime Imperator in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

At the time of his passing, Norton had appeared as a lead villain in the soon-to-be-released Black Creek, a martial arts Western starring and produced by Cynthia Rothrock. The film is set to come out later this year.

Condolences to Richard Norton’s wife Judy and as a final tribute, here’s a tribute video created by the late Tony Coates, aka KingofKungFu2002, on YouTube.

RIP Richard Norton…forever a legend. Forever one of the GOATs.