One year after Richard Norton died, fans continue to celebrate his decades-long film career. He starred alongside Chuck Norris in the 1980s film “The Octagon” and in the 2015 action hit “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Norton studied martial arts as a child in Sydney, Australia, and worked as security at nightclubs before becoming a bodyguard to the Rolling Stones during their Australian tour.
But his life changed after he met and struck up a friendship with Norris in Australia. After “The Octagon,” Norton worked on more than 80 projects as an actor, stuntman, and fight coordinator.
Therefore, the new details emerging about his passing are alarming.
Before his sudden passing, Norton appeared relatively healthy and fit. His Instagram page featured photos of him practicing martial arts and teaching others. From the looks of his other photos, Norton appeared to be in shape.
So it was quite a shock when the 75-year-old died on March 30, 2025, leaving behind his wife of 32 years, Judy Green.
People shared the results of Norton’s coroner’s report dated Oct. 30. It stated that he died of “a cardiac arrest at home following self-administration of recently commenced peptide therapy.
Although a doctor prescribed them to Norton, until recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved them for human use. In Australia, where Norton died, the Therapeutic Goods Administration also has not approved the peptides.
According to the Daily Mail, Norton collapsed and went into cardiac arrest after injecting himself with CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin.
Both are used to support muscle growth and recovery after exercise. Peptides are a small string of amino acids that tell cells what action to take whether it’s repair tissue, help with inflammation or regulate hormones. Some form naturally in the body, but pharmacies also make them.
Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overrode the recommendations of staff scientists to approve a policy that allows compounding factories to make and dispense six unproven peptides drugs.
Although the wellness industry has embraced the injectables, most FDA scientific staff oppose the new policy. As a result, the FDA has yet to approve the six peptides or deem them safe.
The HHS-approved peptide list does not include the peptides Norton used. Those are BPC-157 to treat ulcerative colitis, Epitalon which helps with insomnia, KPV supports wound healing, MOTS-c works on metabolic health, Semax supports brain function and migraines, and lastly, TB-500 helps with tissue repair.
Norton told his Australian doctor that he wanted to do peptide therapy and that he had already tried it with a previous doctor. He used it to help with “fatigue, reduced physical recovery, shoulder pain and loss of lean muscle mass.”
The “Walker, Texas Ranger” actor previously suffered from asthma, osteoarthritis, and also had bilateral shoulder reconstructions.
Norton and Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki reportedly discussed the risks of taking the peptide as well as “the experimental nature of the treatment.” Additionally, Norton signed an “Informed Consent Form for Peptide Therapy.”
They addressed that “the treatment is recognised as experimental and prescribed off-label, but it is done so under close clinical supervision, with ongoing monitoring and consideration of individual patient needs and responses.
Weeks before his death, Norton told Dr. Muchnicki that his symptoms were improving after taking the peptides. Three days later, he confessed to a nurse that he was self-administering double the dosage that Dr. Muchnicki recommended. The nurse told him to stick with his original prescribed dose.
Hours later, he injected himself with another dose of the peptides and became unresponsive.
His wife recalled that Norton became “hot and flushed and then collapsed.”
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
One person who felt bad about Norton dying wrote, “Wow, that’s sad 75 years old? He looked really good for 75 and then just to die one day amazing.”
A second defended Dr. Muchnicki by saying, “If a patient takes double the prescribed disagree how is the doctor at fault? It actually sounds like his records were meticulous.”
A third typed, “Wait. What? He collapsed and she called her doctor before she called 911 and started CPR?”
“I really have no words. I have several mixed up feelings about this one. So many he should have and shouldn’t haves and should ofs,” wrote another skeptic. “I’m sorry to his family for his loss.”
An investigation was done by The Medical Board of Australia. Dr. Muchnicki said, “the clinical care provided by Dr Muchnicki was at a standard reasonably expected.”
He reportedly accepted the criticism and expressed remorse to Norton’s family. The medical practitioner must also undergo one-on-one training in clinical record-keeping and management.
