We like to take time here at Nerdbot to honor the stunt community in film and television. It’s an area of production and performance that does not get the attention and respect that it deserves. The fact that the Academy Awards still don’t have a stunt performance category is a shame. So it’s with a heavy heart that we report a death in the world of stunt coordination with the passing of Richard Norton.
Norton’s work in the film industry spans decades, dating back to 1977 and “ABBA: The Movie.” His more recent and notable work though saw him coordinating stunts for both “Suicide Squad” films as well as doing coordination and acting for both George Miller‘s modern “Mad Max” films. Fittingly enough, Norton was Australian which is how he came to work with ABBA when they were touring the country.
Along with his acting, Norton was also a highly skilled martial artist. He frequently worked with Chuck Norris dating back to 1980’s “The Octagon,” and doing fighting choreography and some on screen acting on Norris’ television series, “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Say what you will about the show’s cheesy writing and storylines, but the fight sequences were always entertaining.
The respect he earned in the industry resonated with others. “The Suicide Squad” director James Gunn tweeted:
Not many people can claim to have the wide-spanning career that Norton had. Actor, stunt performer, choreographer, bodyguard to musicians, martial artist; that’s a tremendous amount of talent. As we stated before, stunt performers and coordinators seldom get the kind of recognition that they deserve. Despite being such an integral and exciting part of film and television, they often go unsung. The legacy that Norton leaves behind though is one that can’t help but be respected by anyone.
Norton was 75.
