‘Mad Max’ Series Actor, Stunt Coordinator Was 75

Richard Norton, an Australian martial artist, screen actor and stunt coordinator who trained celebrities like Charlize Theron and Liam Neeson for film stunts, died in Melbourne. He was 75. Norton’s wife, Judy Green, confirmed the news on Instagram. A cause of death was not immediately available.

“I am numb and devastated, I have no words,” Green wrote. “I have lost my everything. 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.”

In recent years, Norton’s fight choreographer credits included high-octane tentpoles like “Suicide Squad,” “The Suicide Squad,” “Blacklight” and “X-Men: Dark Phoenix.” Along with coordinating stuntwork on both “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “Mad Max: Fury Road,” he also played the role of the Prime Imperator, a lead henchman to the villainous Immortan Joe.

“Richard Norton was a wonderfully talented stunt performer, stunt coordinator and actor. He was also f a friend,” director James Gunn wrote in a tribute post Sunday. “I met Richard as the fight choreographer on ‘The Suicide Squad’; he choreographed the Harley escape scene, Peacemaker vs. Rick Flag Jr. and more. He was a tough but sweet Australian dude with a hearty laugh and a million stories about his years making movies.”

Norton is also credited for stunts on the 1980 film “The Octagon.” He played the character Slade in “Equalizer 2000.” He was a fight choreographer for “Under the Gun” and a stunt coordinator for “Dream Warrior” and “The New Adventures of Robin Hood.”

Norton’s talents led him to collaborating with many Hollywood actors, such as Anya Taylor-Joy, Jackie Chan, Sophie Turner and Scarlett Johansson. He also trained musicians like Stevie Nicks and ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog; “ABBA: The Movie” was one of his first film jobs. Norton is…