Jump to content

Aaron Norris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aaron Norris
Norris in 2020
Born
Aaron Dee Norris

(1951-11-23) November 23, 1951 (age 72)
Gardena, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film producer, screenwriter, film director
Years active1974–present
Spouse
Rebecca Norris
​
(m. 1981)​
Children3
Relatives

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.

Career

[edit]

1974–1988: Stunt work to directing

[edit]

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]

1990–2002: Subsequent projects

[edit]

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]

2005–present: Current work

[edit]

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]

Personal life

[edit]

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]

Martial arts

[edit]

Norris holds a tenth-degree black belt in the Chuck Norris System Chun Kuk Do, a martial art created by his brother Chuck Norris.

Director

[edit]
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

Producer

[edit]
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

Stunts

[edit]
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

Actor

[edit]
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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ tamsbaxter (April 7, 2011), Aaron Norris, archived from the original on December 14, 2021, retrieved March 16, 2018
  2. ^ "Chuck Norris Movies: Lone Wolf McQuade and 23 Other Action Films Remembered by the Martial Arts Icon » Black Belt Magazine". Black Belt Magazine. September 24, 2012. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Good Guys Wear Black (1978), retrieved March 16, 2018
  4. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Elvis (TV Movie 1978, he demonstrated martials arts techniques for USAF recruits in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 1979), retrieved March 16, 2018
  6. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  7. ^ Legend Norris (May 4, 2013), Chuck Norris in The Making of "A Force of One"., archived from the original on December 14, 2021, retrieved March 16, 2018
  8. ^ The Visitor (1979), retrieved March 16, 2018
  9. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  16. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  21. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  23. ^ "Forest Warrior". TV Guide. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Ripper Man (1995), retrieved March 16, 2018
  25. ^ Ferrandini, Dean Raphael (January 26, 1996), Overkill, Aaron Norris, Michael Nouri, Kenneth Moskow, retrieved March 16, 2018
  26. ^ Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series 1993–2001), retrieved March 16, 2018
  27. ^ Thomas, Bob (November 1, 1998). "Chuck Norris Day". Standard-Speaker.
  28. ^ Preece, Michael; Norris, Eric; Donner, Richard; Meyer, Gerald (2013). 5 Film Chuck Norris Collection (DVD). Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp LLC. Event occurs at Logan's War: Bound by Honor. 09600922143.
  29. ^ Bauder, David (November 5, 1998). "Temptations movie makes sweet music for NBC". The Morning Call.
  30. ^ Sons of Thunder (TV Series 1999– ), retrieved March 16, 2018
  31. ^ "Sunday Night". Herald and Review. April 1, 2000. p. Tv-7.
  32. ^ Hal Erickson (2015). "The President's Man 2: A Line In the Sand (2002)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  33. ^ Preece, Michael; Norris, Eric; Donner, Richard; Meyer, Gerald (2013). 5 Film Chuck Norris Collection (DVD). Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp LLC. Event occurs at The President's Man and The President's Man: A Line in the Sand. 09600922143.
  34. ^ The Cutter (2005), retrieved March 16, 2018
  35. ^ Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (TV Movie 2005), retrieved March 16, 2018
  36. ^ Inside Aphasia: A Documentary About Aphasia (2007), retrieved March 16, 2018
  37. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  38. ^ Everyday Life (TV Movie 2009), retrieved March 16, 2018
  39. ^ I Love You Phillip Morris (2009), retrieved March 16, 2018
  40. ^ AmericanLife Names Aaron Norris Development Chief, February 11, 2009
  41. ^ "AmericanLife Names Aaron Norris Development Chief | Multichannel". multichannel.com. November 2, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  42. ^ Skateland (2010), retrieved March 16, 2018
  43. ^ Ant-Man (2015), retrieved March 16, 2018
  44. ^ Norris, Chuck (2008). Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America. Regnery Publishing. pp. 59–60. ISBN 978-1-59698-558-2.
  45. ^ Norris, Chuck (December 2, 2010). "Former TV lawman Chuck Norris to be given honorary Texas Ranger title by Gov. Rick Perry today in Garland". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aaron_Norris&oldid=1235627630"