Richard Norton (actor)

Richard Norton
Born (1950-01-06) 6 January 1950
Australia
Years active 1980-present
Spouse(s) Judy Green (since 1993)
Website http://www.richardnorton.net/

Richard Norton (born 6 January 1950) is an Australian martial artist, action film star, stuntman, stunt/fight coordinator or fight choreographer, and martial arts trainer. Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career. He has attained an dan (rank)ninth-dan in Zen Do Kai, Australia. His first screen appearance was in the 1980 Chuck Norris film The Octagon, and to date he has worked on over 70 feature films and television programs.[1]

Career

Norton worked as a personal bodyguard for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt,[2] James Taylor, David Bowie,[3] ABBA,[4] John Belushi, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks.

Norton has been on the cover (as well as featured in editorials) of martial arts magazines such as 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.[5]

Film

Norton is known for his appearances in Hong Kong action films. Norton's 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.

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

Norton served as fight coordinator on the 2007 film The Condemned (starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones), doubling for Jones. His latest starring role is in the soon to be released contemporary drama, 'Under the Red Moon'.

In August 2010, Richard Norton appeared at Berlin Movie Con, a convention of martial arts where he was joined by 10 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 the likes of Cynthia Rothrock, Don 'The Dragon' Wilson and Conan Lee.[6]

Filmography

Television

Martial arts experience

Richard Norton has trained in many aspects of the martial arts in his 45 years of training, 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, 5th-degree Masters rank in Chun Kuk Do (Chuck Norris system), 4th-degree Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and an 9th-degree Black Belt in Zen Do Kai Karate. He has trained extensively with such Martial Arts legends as Tino Ceberano, Tadashi Yamashita, Fumio Demura, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Pete "Sugar Foot" Cunningham, the Machado brothers and Chuck Norris.

Norton is in constant demand for seminars all over the world, covering such topics as street defense, martial arts weapons drills, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. His 15 years experience as a Personal Body Guard for some of Rock and Roll's greats finds Richard in particular demand for teaching the realities of real life street defense, focusing on aspects such as adrenal dump, stress control and pre-emptive strikes.

In Sept 2007, Norton released a two-disc DVD set on Black Belt Digital Video called 'Black Belt training Complexes'. The DVDs show Norton executing some very fast and accurate examples of his skill, and some additional seminar footage is also included. The 3 plus hours of training drills and information focus on the development of explosive speed, power and continuity of movement, with in depth explanation of the various principles one needs to understand to develop incredible speed, regardless of their particular style or discipline.

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).[7]

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

  1. ↑ Black Belt Magazine March, 1994, p. 24. Books.google.com. March 1994. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  2. ↑ body guard- Retrieved 2014-09-24
  3. ↑ The Rolling Stones trainer- Retrieved 2014-09-24
  4. ↑ ABBA body guard- Retrieved 2014-09-24
  5. ↑ MA Mags: Richard Norton- Retrieved 2014-09-24
  6. ↑ biographical info- Retrieved 2014-09-24
  7. ↑ Fight coordinator: Walker, Texas Ranger- Retrieved 2014-09-24
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