Hollywood actor and stunt performer Richard Norton died at the age of 75 in March 2025 after a heart attack triggered by an injection of peptides, according to a coroner's report. The martial arts expert, known for his roles opposite Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris, had been administering double the prescribed dose of his treatment.
Coroner's findings on the death
Melbourne-based coroner David Ryan concluded in a report filed Wednesday in the Coroners Court of Victoria that the death "was triggered by his injection" of peptides. The report stated that "Richard had been taking amounts of the medication in excess of the dose prescribed by his medical practitioner."
Two days before his death on March 30, 2025, Norton told his doctor's nurse that "he had been administering double the prescribed dose of CJC1295 & Ipamorelin." The report noted that "the nurse advised Richard that from the following week he ought to only administer the prescribed dose."
Final days and collapse
Five days before his death, Norton told his doctor that he was feeling good, but three days later he "requested a replacement" after allegedly "dropp[ing] and [breaking]" the vial of his treatment. He was granted the replacement, along with two additional peptides, with the nurse warning him only to take the prescribed amount.
After injecting the second dose of peptides that evening, his wife, Judy Green, said the star complained of feeling "hot and flushed and then collapsed and became unresponsive" at around 9 pm. Judy contacted her doctor and medical services and administered CPR until medics arrived before 9:30 pm. Clinicians noted that he suffered anaphylaxis followed by cardiac arrest after injecting the peptides.
Career and legacy
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Norton's death appears to be the first confirmed fatality in the country linked to unapproved peptides. Peptides are small proteins that can have a wide range of effects on the body, and amid a recent wellness craze, they have been claimed to provide treatments for everything from faster healing and younger-looking skin to better sleep and even a longer life.
In the UK, grey-market peptides exist within a legal and regulatory middle zone. They are not illegal to buy or own, but they are not approved for human use and, as a result, are not subject to the quality controls that govern pharmaceutical manufacturing.
During his career, Norton trained Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck, Tom Hardy, Scarlett Johansson, Liam Neeson and Margot Robbie, and previously worked as a stuntman and bodyguard for rock legends like David Bowie and Stevie Nicks. After his death, his wife took to Instagram to share a tribute, writing: "I am numb and devastated. I have no words. I have lost my everything." She added: "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. Judy."
