Aaron Norris | |
|---|---|
 Norris in 2020 | |
| Born | Aaron Dee Norris November 23, 1951 Gardena, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, screenwriter, film director |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Rebecca Norris (m. 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
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Aaron Dee Norris (born November 23, 1951) is an American stunt performer, director, occasional actor, and film and television producer. He is the younger brother of action film star Chuck Norris.
While his older brother Chuck Norris was on his rise to stardom, Aaron Norris began his career as an uncredited stunt man in movies such as Black Belt Jones (1974), Speedtrap (1977), and Breaker! Breaker! (1977) (his brother Chuck's starring debut). The following year he was hired again as martial arts choreographer (credited) and a stunt double (uncredited) for his brother's second film Good Guys Wear Black - where he acted, credited, as "Al" one of the "Black Tigers" in an early scene- (1978) directed by Ted Post. He is noted to have performed the flying sidekick through the windshield of a speeding car, the stunt that sold the movie. [1] [2] He also played a small role in this movie. [3] Later on that same year, director Ted Post re-collaborated with Norris who is a credited stuntman for Post's film Go Tell the Spartans , and was a stunt coordinator for the John Carpenter film Elvis starring Kurt Russell. [4] [5]
In 1979, Norris played Anderson in A Force of One starring his brother Chuck, with whom he shared the fight choreography credit. Norris is also credited as the stunt coordinator and listed amongst the stuntmen. [6] The director noted that Aaron wanted to learn everything, and was a real asset to the picture. Because of this the director had him to focus on the martial art, and the specific of the fighting. [7] The same year he was also a stuntman for the Italian film The Visitor . [8]
In 1980, Norris did the Karate fight choreography and played the role of Hatband for his brother's film The Octagon. [9]
In 1981, with his brother playing the lead, Norris was stunt player in Steve Carver's An Eye for an Eye . [10]
In 1982, Norris was an associate producer and a stunt person in his brother's film Silent Rage. [11]
In 1983, Norris was again an associate producer on a film starring Chuck, Steve Carver's Lone Wolf McQuade , where he also did stunt coordination and played a small role. [12]
During that decade, he worked as the stunt coordinator for I, the Jury with Armand Assante, White Water Rebels with James Brolin, Chained Heat with Linda Blair, the dance film Breakin' , Lies with Ann Dusenberry, and The Naked Cage with Shari Shattuck. [13] [14] [15] [16]
In 1988 he directed Braddock: Missing in Action III . [17] That same year he also directed the war drama Platoon Leader , starring Michael Dudikoff. [18]
Norris continued directing with his brother as the lead in Delta Force 2 (1990), [19] The Hitman, [20] Sidekicks (1993)., [21] Hellbound (1994), Top Dog (1995), [22] and Forest Warrior (1996). [23]
In 1995, he produced the film Ripper Man. [24]
In 1996, he played the leading man in the film Overkill. [25] That year he started to work on his brother's long lasting TV show Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001), during his tenure he served as an executive producer for 168 television episodes. He wrote and directed four episodes. [26]
In 1998, Norris was an executive producer, and participated to writing the story of for the CBS television film Logan's War: Bound by Honor. Sharing the lead with Chuck is actor Eddie Cibrian. [27] [28] The television-film was ranked third among the thirteen most viewed shows of that week. [29]
In 1999, he created and was an executive producer on the Walker, Texas Ranger spin-off Sons of Thunder . [30]
In the early 2000, Norris was an executive producer for the CBS television films The President's Man (2000), [31] and The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002). [32] [33]
In 2005, Norris was an executive producer and acted in the film The Cutter . [34] That same year he returned to directing with the CBS Movie of the Week, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire . [35] A continuation of the series Walker, Texas Ranger , with Chuck Norris reprising his role.
In 2007, he produced the documentary Inside Aphasia. [36]
In 2009, Norris produced Bill Duke's Not Easily Broken starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson. [37] That same year he also produced the film Everyday Life with Brad Hawkins. [38] That year, he worked on stunts on the Luc Besson film I Love You Phillip Morris . [39] Also in 2009, he was named the "president of development and production" of ALN, formerly The American Life Network. [40] [41]
In 2010, he provided stunts for the film Skateland . [42]
In 2015, he provided utility stunts for the Marvel Comics film Ant-Man starring Paul Rudd. [43]
Norris is the younger brother of Chuck Norris (b. March 10, 1940), and Wieland Clyde Norris (1943–1970). During the Vietnam War, both Aaron and his older brother Wieland enlisted in the United States Army. [44] Wieland was killed in action in Vietnam in 1970.
Norris has been married to Rebecca since 1981. They have three children, a son and twin daughters. Both twins appeared with their mother in Norris's and his brother Chuck's 1991 film The Hitman .
Norris' nephews, through Chuck, are Mike and Eric Norris.
On December 2, 2010, Norris, along with brother Chuck, was given the title honorary Texas Ranger by Texas Governor Rick Perry. [45]
Norris holds a tenth-degree black belt in the Chuck Norris System Chun Kuk Do, a martial art created by his brother Chuck Norris.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Braddock: Missing in Action III | |
| 1988 | Platoon Leader | |
| 1990 | Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection | |
| 1991 | The Hitman | |
| 1992 | Sidekicks | |
| 1993 | Good Cop/Bad Cop | |
| 1993 | Hellbound | |
| 1995 | Top Dog | |
| 1996 | Forest Warrior | |
| 1996–2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Television (TV Series - 4 episodes) |
| 2005 | Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire | Television film |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Silent Rage | associate producer |
| 1983 | Lone Wolf McQuade | associate producer |
| 1995 | Ripper Man | Producer |
| 1996–2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series – 123 episodes) | executive producer |
| 1998 | Logan's War: Bound by Honor | executive producer |
| 1999 | Sons of Thunder (TV Series – 6 episodes) | executive producer |
| 2000 | The President's Man | executive producer |
| 2002 | The President's Man: A Line in the Sand | executive producer |
| 2005 | Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire | executive producer |
| 2005 | The Cutter | executive producer |
| 2007 | Inside Aphasia | Producer |
| 2009 | Not Easily Broken | Producer |
| 2009 | Everyday Life | Producer |
| 2020 | Army of One | Producer |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Black Belt Jones | stunts - uncredited |
| 1977 | Breaker! Breaker! | stunt double: Chuck Norris - uncredited |
| 1977 | Speedtrap | stunts - uncredited |
| 1978 | Good Guys Wear Black | martial arts choreographer / stunt double: Chuck Norris - uncredited |
| 1978 | Go Tell the Spartans | stunts |
| 1978 | Elvis | stunt coordinator |
| 1979 | The Visitor | stuntman |
| 1979 | A Force of One | fight choreographer / stunt coordinator / stunt double: Chuck Norris - uncredited / stunts |
| 1980 | The Octagon | fight choreographer / stunt coordinator |
| 1981 | An Eye for an Eye | stunt coordinator / stunts |
| 1982 | Silent Rage | stunt coordinator / stunts |
| 1982 | I, the Jury | assistant stunt coordinator |
| 1982 | Forced Vengeance | stunt coordinator |
| 1983 | White Water Rebels | stunts |
| 1983 | Lone Wolf McQuade | stunt coordinator |
| 1983 | Chained Heat | stunt player |
| 1984 | Breakin' | stunts |
| 1984 | Missing in Action | stunt coordinator |
| 1985 | Missing in Action 2: The Beginning | stunt coordinator / stunts - uncredited |
| 1985 | Code of Silence | stunt coordinator |
| 1985 | Lies | stunts |
| 1985 | Invasion U.S.A. | stunt coordinator |
| 1986 | The Naked Cage | stunt player |
| 1986 | Firewalker | stunt coordinator |
| 2009 | I Love You Phillip Morris | stunts |
| 2010 | Skateland | stunts |
| 2015 | Ant-Man | utility stunts |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Good Guys Wear Black | Al – The Black Tigers | Debut film |
| 1979 | A Force of One | Anderson | |
| 1980 | The Octagon | Hatband | |
| 1981 | Raider Stone | Unknown | |
| 1983 | Deadly Force | Guard No. 3 | |
| Lone Wolf McQuade | Punk | ||
| 1996 | Overkill | Jack Hazard | First lead role |
| 2005 | The Cutter | Tony Maylam | |
Stuart Maxwell Whitman was an American actor, known for his lengthy career in film and television. Whitman was born in San Francisco and raised in New York until the age of 12, when his family relocated to Los Angeles. In 1948, Whitman was discharged from the Corps of Engineers in the U.S. Army and started to study acting and appear in plays. From 1951 to 1957, Whitman had a streak working in mostly bit parts in films, including When Worlds Collide (1951), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Barbed Wire (1952) and The Man from the Alamo (1952). On television, Whitman guest-starred in series such as Dr. Christian, The Roy Rogers Show, and Death Valley Days, and also had a recurring role on Highway Patrol. Whitman's first lead role was in John H. Auer's Johnny Trouble (1957).
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts. Norris went on to appear in a minor role in the spy film The Wrecking Crew (1968). Friend and fellow martial artist Bruce Lee invited him to play one of the main villains in The Way of the Dragon (1972). While Norris continued acting, friend and student Steve McQueen suggested he take it seriously. Norris took the starring role in the action film Breaker! Breaker! (1977), which turned a profit. His second lead, Good Guys Wear Black (1978), became a hit, and he soon became a popular action film star.
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film Lone Wolf McQuade, with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full seasons followed with new episodes airing from September 25, 1993, to May 19, 2001, and reruns continuing on CBS until July 28, 2001. It has been broadcast in over 100 countries and spawned a 2005 television film entitled Trial by Fire. The film ended on a cliffhanger, which was never resolved. DVD sets of all seasons have been released. At various times since 1997, reruns of the show have aired, in syndication, on the USA Network and Action in Canada. Reruns are currently seen on CBS Action, WGN America, CMT, INSP, getTV, Pluto TV, Heroes & Icons, Grit, 10 Bold, Peacock TV, Up TV and Hulu.
Steve James was an American actor, stunt performer and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force (1986), The Exterminator (1980), and Avenging Force (1986). James also portrayed Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy/spoof film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, and its 1990 television pilot spinoff Hammer, Slammer, & Slade.
Sons of Thunder is an American action crime drama television series created by Aaron and Chuck Norris that aired from March 6 to April 17, 1999 on CBS. It was a spin-off of Walker, Texas Ranger.
Silent Rage is a 1982 American action crime science fiction film directed by Michael Miller. It stars Chuck Norris as a sheriff who must stop a mentally ill man who goes on a rampage after being granted near-indestructibility in a medical experiment. It grossed $10.5 million on release.
Lone Wolf McQuade is a 1983 American Western film directed by Steve Carver and starring Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera, L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong, Leon Isaac Kennedy and Robert Beltran.
Eric Scott Norris is an American former stock car racing driver and stuntman. He won the 2002 NASCAR Winston West Series Championship.
Breaker! Breaker! is a 1977 American action film directed by Don Hulette and starring Chuck Norris.
Richard Norton is an Australian martial artist, actor, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, security consultant, and fight choreographer. He holds a 5th dan black belt in Gōjū-ryū karate, a 6th dan black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an 8th dan black belt in Chun Kuk Do, and a level 6 ranking in American kickboxing. After high school, Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career.
Marla Adams was an American television actress, best known for her roles as Belle Clemens on The Secret Storm, from 1968 to 1974, and as Dina Abbott Mergeron on The Young and the Restless, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
A Force of One is a 1979 American martial arts action-thriller film directed by Paul Aaron and starring Chuck Norris, with Jennifer O'Neill, Ron O'Neal, Clu Gulager, and martial artist Bill Wallace in his film debut. Norris plays karate champion Matt Logan, who is hired to assist an anti-narcotics police unit, who are being targeted by a killer. The screenplay by Ernest Tidyman was based on a story co-written by martial artist Pat E. Johnson.
Good Guys Wear Black is a 1978 American martial arts action film starring Chuck Norris and directed by Ted Post. This was the second film to feature Norris as the star, following Breaker! Breaker! (1977). However, this is the one that Norris considers his "breakthrough".
Koichi Sakamoto is a Japanese film and television director, stunt performer and coordinator, fight choreographer and producer. He is best known for his work in the tokusatsu genre, particularly for the Power Rangers, Super Sentai and Kamen Rider franchises.
Jordan Andrew "J. J." Perry is an American action director, martial artist, actor, and stuntman.
ActionFest was an annual film festival in Asheville, NC, started by Carolina Cinemas and Magnolia Pictures founder Bill Banowsky and action director/producer Aaron Norris, along with Dennis Berman and Tom Quinn. ActionFest was the first film festival in the world devoted exclusively to action film. It was also the only film festival in the world that honoring stunt performers, filling a void caused by the decision of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences not to recognize stunt men and stunt women in its Academy Awards. ActionFest's stated mission was to "recognize, honor and appreciate the remarkable efforts of these amazing people who risk their lives every day to make Hollywood films look exciting and great."
Chuck Norris is an American actor and martial artist. He has appeared in a number of action films, such as The Way of the Dragon, in which he starred alongside Bruce Lee, and was The Cannon Group's leading star in the 1980s. He played the starring role in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger.
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire is a 2005 American television action film directed by Aaron Norris and based on the popular 1993–2001 television series Walker, Texas Ranger starring Chuck Norris, Sheree J. Wilson, Judson Mills, Andre Kristoff, Janine Turner and Steven Williams. The film premiered on October 16, 2005 on CBS.
Logan's War: Bound by Honor is a 1998 American made-for-television action film directed by Michael Preece. It was written by Walter Klenhard, based on a story he wrote with Chuck Norris and his brother Aaron. Chuck Norris also starred in the film, with Eddie Cibrian and Joe Spano. The film premiered on November 1, 1998 on CBS.
Lin Oeding is an American film director and stunt coordinator.
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