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Richard Norton, a prolific actor and stunt coordinator who’s been working since the ’80s, died Sunday (March 30). He was 75.
Norton’s wife, Judy, announced the news on social media with a moving message. “I am numb and devastated, I have no words I have lost my everything,” she wrote, per People magazine. “I know there is, and will be lots of love and shock that we have lost this incredible human being. The love of my life. I’m using this time to come to terms with my great loss.”
A cause of death has not yet been publicly shared.
According to the Australian actor’s IMDb, Norton was a trained martial artist who started out as a bodyguard for The Rolling Stones, ABBA, David Bowie, and more. But his film career began in 1980 when Chuck Norris cast him in the 1980 action film The Octogon, sparking a long career with credits in several martial arts and action features, including American Ninja, Gymkata, China O’Brien and Ironheart, among others. Norton also played several roles on Walker, Texas Ranger between 1993 to 2001.
But his most memorable role was as The Prime Imperator in the 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Norton was also a prolific fight and stunt choreographer, with credits including Mad Max, Suicide Squad, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Amazing Spider-Man and more.
Suicide Squad director James Gunn remembered the actor with a post on Instagram yesterday that showed him on set with John Cena and Joel Kinnaman.
“Richard Norton was a wonderfully talented stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He was also a friend. … He was a tough but sweet Australian dude with a hearty laugh and a million stories about his years making movies. I’d constantly grill him for tales about working on the 90’s Hong Kong movies we both loved so much, and he was always happy to oblige,” Gunn wrote, adding, “The film world will be a less vibrant place without him.”
In his own tribute, Norris said he was “absolutely heartbroken” over the loss.
“You inspired so many, and your legacy and impact will continue to live on for generations to come. You were truly one of the finest men I’ve ever known. I long for more time together, but I take comfort in the fact that we will meet again,” he wrote of Norton on social media.
