In a devastating blow to the martial arts world, Australian legend Richard Norton has passed away at the age of 75. The accomplished BJJ black belt, actor, and action scene choreographer collapsed at his South Melbourne home on Friday night and died over the weekend, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that spanned multiple industries.
Norton’s wife, Judy Green, shared the heartbreaking news via Instagram on Sunday morning.
“I am numb and devastated, I have no words, I have lost my everything,”
Green wrote.
“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.”
Born in Sydney in 1950, Norton’s martial arts journey began at age 11 with judo, earning his black belt in karate by 17. His expertise extended to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he trained in for over three decades. In 1970, Bob Jones hired Norton as chief instructor at Jones’ Melbourne dojo, which later evolved into Zen Do Kai.
Carlos Machado, a prominent figure in the BJJ community, expressed his grief:
“This amazing martial artist and close friend of the entire Machado Family has left this world today! You have always been a gentleman and awesome fighter, humble and open-minded! You were with us since the beginning of our journey.”
Norton’s extraordinary career path took him from martial arts instruction to personal security for music royalty, including The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Nicks. He even appeared as a bodyguard in ABBA’s iconic 1977 Australian tour movie.
His Hollywood contributions were equally impressive. Norton acted in numerous martial arts and action films while developing a reputation as an elite fight trainer and choreographer. He worked with A-list stars including Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Charlie Hunnam, Ben Affleck, and Charlize Theron.
“I did 60 movies in the ’80s and ’90s but the older you get the less roles there are unless you are playing someone’s dad or an aging gangster, and I get that,”
Norton told the Sunday Herald Sun in 2023.
“I was lucky enough to learn what it is like behind the camera and that is where my main career is now.”
Recent projects showcased Norton’s choreography talents on blockbusters like “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”, and “X-Men: Dark Phoenix”. One of his final acting roles appeared in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.”
Norton, who married Green in 1993, remained active in the martial arts community until his passing, continuing to share his knowledge through seminars and classes in Melbourne.
Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick paid tribute on Instagram:
“He was an extraordinary individual, a towering figure in the martial arts community… More than that, he was a wonderful human being, and I feel fortunate to have shared the screen with him.”
Norton leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a martial artist, instructor, performer, and mentor whose influence touched countless lives across multiple industries and continents.
