Legend has it that instead of a chin beneath Chuck Norris' beard, he's hiding a third foot waiting to hit you with a surprise roundhouse kick. Some of his older films prove that one false, but it might be true that when Norris does a push-up, it's the Earth that moves, not him. Who's to say, really? The point is that Norris went from real martial artist to actor, dominating big screens through the 1980s and the small screen throughout the '90s. Love him or hate him, he's an American original.
He might not have gotten films with the kind of big budgets afforded his peers, and he might not be on too many lists of best action stars, but his movies deliver exactly what they set out to -- Norris smacking the living daylights out of bad dudes. Now keep reading to see where your favorites landed on...
He might not have gotten films with the kind of big budgets afforded his peers, and he might not be on too many lists of best action stars, but his movies deliver exactly what they set out to -- Norris smacking the living daylights out of bad dudes. Now keep reading to see where your favorites landed on...
- 2/1/2025
- by Rob Hunter
- Slash Film
Kim Kahana, the stunt performer, teacher, coordinator and war hero who played Chongo on the kids show Danger Island and doubled for Charles Bronson in several action films, has died. He was 94.
Kahana died Monday of natural causes at his home in Groveland, Florida, his wife, Sandy Kahana, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Kahana, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, taught stunts to many thousands of students since the mid-1970s in six-week courses that took place in Chatsworth, California, and Central Florida. Many went on to have thriving careers in show business.
He also had six different black belt degrees — he taught martial arts, too — and worked as a professional bodyguard protecting Hollywood types.
A native of Hawaii, Kahana appeared in his first film as a biker in the Marlon Brando-starring The Wild One (1953) and was an extra in other movies before he realized that stunt performers got paid more than he did.
Kahana died Monday of natural causes at his home in Groveland, Florida, his wife, Sandy Kahana, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Kahana, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, taught stunts to many thousands of students since the mid-1970s in six-week courses that took place in Chatsworth, California, and Central Florida. Many went on to have thriving careers in show business.
He also had six different black belt degrees — he taught martial arts, too — and worked as a professional bodyguard protecting Hollywood types.
A native of Hawaii, Kahana appeared in his first film as a biker in the Marlon Brando-starring The Wild One (1953) and was an extra in other movies before he realized that stunt performers got paid more than he did.
- 8/13/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The physical media distributor Shout Factory has been announcing quite a bit of cool new 4K releases lately. Most recently, we reported on the all-new 4K Uhd Blu-ray box set on the Bill & Ted Trilogy that includes Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey and Bill & Ted Face the Music. Blu-ray.com also revealed additional titles coming from the label. This August will see the 4K special releases of the Cannon Film classic The Delta Force, starring Chuck Norris, and a steelbook edition of the 1996 film from director Rob Cohen that features Sean Connery as a talking dragon, Dragonheart. .
The synopsis on the Delta Force 4K Blu-ray reads,
“Political extremists have taken innocent people hostage…and only super-soldiers Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin can rescue them in this “astounding mix of fact, fantasy and heavy-duty adventure” (Variety). Co-starring Martin Balsam and Shelley Winters, The Delta...
The synopsis on the Delta Force 4K Blu-ray reads,
“Political extremists have taken innocent people hostage…and only super-soldiers Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin can rescue them in this “astounding mix of fact, fantasy and heavy-duty adventure” (Variety). Co-starring Martin Balsam and Shelley Winters, The Delta...
- 6/4/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Chuck Norris is known for his roundhouse kicks and his action star persona in the ‘80s and the ‘90s. He starred in films such as Good Guys Wear Black, Breaker! Breaker!, and The Octagon. Though he did not reach the level of other action stars of the era such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, he still held his ground. The actor was known for being proficient in martial arts and was also known to have trained many celebrities in martial arts before he became an actor.
Norris made his big screen debut with Bruce Lee’s The Way of The Dragon. The action star has a minor role as Colt, who is recruited by the antagonist to fight against Lee’s Tang Lung. Norris and Lee reportedly developed a friendship when they met at the All-American-Karate Championship tournament, where the Silent Rage star was a two-time world champion.
Chuck Norris Began His...
Norris made his big screen debut with Bruce Lee’s The Way of The Dragon. The action star has a minor role as Colt, who is recruited by the antagonist to fight against Lee’s Tang Lung. Norris and Lee reportedly developed a friendship when they met at the All-American-Karate Championship tournament, where the Silent Rage star was a two-time world champion.
Chuck Norris Began His...
- 4/3/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Would you believe it if we told you that Chuck Norris, a legendary figure in martial arts and popular culture, turned 84 this past Sunday (March 10th)? Well, it is true, and we must accept that age is just a number. As we reflect on his incredible career and impact on the world of martial arts films, we must acknowledge one of his most important contributions to the genre: his role in Golden Harvest’s The Way of the Dragon.
Chuck Norris in The Delta Force
With a black belt in Tang Soo Do, this Oklahoma native star is one of the most recognizable figures in the world of martial arts movies. Known for his incredible skills and tough-guy persona, he has left a lasting impression on the industry.
But did you know that he once gained weight in preparation for a role that would pit him against another martial arts legend,...
Chuck Norris in The Delta Force
With a black belt in Tang Soo Do, this Oklahoma native star is one of the most recognizable figures in the world of martial arts movies. Known for his incredible skills and tough-guy persona, he has left a lasting impression on the industry.
But did you know that he once gained weight in preparation for a role that would pit him against another martial arts legend,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Pat E. Johnson, a longtime stuntman who was the fight choreographer for and played a referee in the Karate Kid movies and appeared in the martial arts classic Enter the Dragon and in Chuck Norris films, has died. He was 84.
His wife, Susan, posted on social media that he died Sunday but did not provide details.
“For those that don’t know, my husband, Pat Johnson, passed away yesterday,” Sue Johnson posted on Facebook. “I was blessed to have all my sons here with me – we cried, we laughed, we held each other close. 54 years off my life is now at peace, and I am blessed with so many amazing memories, friends, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If anyone wants to remember him through a donation in his name, we believe greatly in the Diabetes association or living Kidney association – both near and dear to our hearts. Thank you to...
His wife, Susan, posted on social media that he died Sunday but did not provide details.
“For those that don’t know, my husband, Pat Johnson, passed away yesterday,” Sue Johnson posted on Facebook. “I was blessed to have all my sons here with me – we cried, we laughed, we held each other close. 54 years off my life is now at peace, and I am blessed with so many amazing memories, friends, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If anyone wants to remember him through a donation in his name, we believe greatly in the Diabetes association or living Kidney association – both near and dear to our hearts. Thank you to...
- 11/7/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
It was announced today that Pat E. Johnson, who choreographed the fight scenes for the first four Karate Kid movies, has died at the age of 84.
Pat E. Johnson was a ninth-degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do and also served as vice president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was created by Chuck Norris in 1973. He learned the Korean martial art while serving as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea. He later met Chuck Norris at a karate tournament in Detroit and the pair quickly bonded. “He and I struck a really good bond at the time because we had both trained in Korea, we had both gotten our black belts in Korea,” Johnson said in a 2016 documentary. “He mentioned to me one time that ‘If you should ever decide to come to California, I think we could work really well together.’ I really...
Pat E. Johnson was a ninth-degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do and also served as vice president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was created by Chuck Norris in 1973. He learned the Korean martial art while serving as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea. He later met Chuck Norris at a karate tournament in Detroit and the pair quickly bonded. “He and I struck a really good bond at the time because we had both trained in Korea, we had both gotten our black belts in Korea,” Johnson said in a 2016 documentary. “He mentioned to me one time that ‘If you should ever decide to come to California, I think we could work really well together.’ I really...
- 11/6/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Pat E. Johnson, the ninth-degree black belt and Chuck Norris contemporary who choreographed the fight scenes, trained the actors and portrayed a tournament referee in the first three Karate Kid films, has died. He was 84.
Johnson died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, Colleen Mary Johnson Summerville, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also was a stuntperson, stunt coordinator, trainer and/or fight coordinator on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mortal Kombat movies; and on other films including Enter the Dragon (1973), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Batman and Robin (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999).
Johnson served as a top instructor at Norris’ karate schools in the Los Angeles area starting in the late 1960s, and his students over the years included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker and members of the Osmond family.
For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson...
Johnson died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, Colleen Mary Johnson Summerville, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also was a stuntperson, stunt coordinator, trainer and/or fight coordinator on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mortal Kombat movies; and on other films including Enter the Dragon (1973), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Batman and Robin (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999).
Johnson served as a top instructor at Norris’ karate schools in the Los Angeles area starting in the late 1960s, and his students over the years included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker and members of the Osmond family.
For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson...
- 11/6/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chuck Norris is making a comeback to the silver screen with the sci-fi action thriller Agent Recon, anchoring the film as the seasoned leader of an underground security task force. The movie pairs Norris with actor Marc Singer and features highly skilled operative Derek Ting on a perilous mission to infiltrate a facility rumored to work with alien technology. Norris's son Dakota has developed the combat sequences for the movie, promising to remind audiences of Norris's legendary status and bringing a familial touch to the visceral fight scenes.
Chuck Norris, the very embodiment of martial arts expertise and rugged cinematic presence, is on the brink of a momentous comeback to the silver screen. After a hiatus that saw him absent from the forefront of movie marquees for over a decade, Norris is gearing up to anchor the sci-fi action thriller Agent Recon. With filming wrapped up and an enthusiastic team at its back,...
Chuck Norris, the very embodiment of martial arts expertise and rugged cinematic presence, is on the brink of a momentous comeback to the silver screen. After a hiatus that saw him absent from the forefront of movie marquees for over a decade, Norris is gearing up to anchor the sci-fi action thriller Agent Recon. With filming wrapped up and an enthusiastic team at its back,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Ali Valle
- MovieWeb
'80s action star Chuck Norris will make an unlikely pairing with '90s hip-hop icon Vanilla Ice in Zombie Plane.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Zombie Plane is an action-comedy to be produced by the Australian company Radioactive. Norris and Ice play exaggerated versions of themselves alongside Aussie pop star and actor Sophie Monk. The movie was shot on location in Australia earlier this year with directors Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Pier of Chop Shop Post.
Related: That '70s Show Almost Starred Chuck Norris in a Key Role
The premise centers around a covert government agency that takes world-renowned celebrities and turns them into special agents to stop an incoming zombie invasion. Norris's role of "Commander Norris" will serve as Ice's agency mentor alongside Monk and a cast of celebrity cameos. Additionally, Ice is set to provide some '90s-influenced tracks to the Zombie Plane's soundtrack. "Audiences can expect a wild ride,...
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Zombie Plane is an action-comedy to be produced by the Australian company Radioactive. Norris and Ice play exaggerated versions of themselves alongside Aussie pop star and actor Sophie Monk. The movie was shot on location in Australia earlier this year with directors Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Pier of Chop Shop Post.
Related: That '70s Show Almost Starred Chuck Norris in a Key Role
The premise centers around a covert government agency that takes world-renowned celebrities and turns them into special agents to stop an incoming zombie invasion. Norris's role of "Commander Norris" will serve as Ice's agency mentor alongside Monk and a cast of celebrity cameos. Additionally, Ice is set to provide some '90s-influenced tracks to the Zombie Plane's soundtrack. "Audiences can expect a wild ride,...
- 10/18/2023
- by André Joseph
- CBR
Happy birthday, Chuck Norris! The action icon and internet legend is celebrating his 80th birthday today and the internet, rightfully so, took time to celebrate the occasion. The star of Walker Texas Ranger has had a career spanning more than 40 years, not to mention all of the truly incredible jokes centered around his legend that have sprung up during that time.
Chuck Norris, born Carlos Ray Norris, was born in 1940. Long before his career as an action star, Norris was a member of the military, serving in the Air Force. It was during his time there that he earned the nickname "Chuck." Norris began studying martial arts during his time in active service. Once leaving the military, he started teaching karate. Rather amazingly, Norris was the first westerner in history to hold the rank of 8th-degree black belt in taekwondo.
It was in 1972 that Chuck Norris got his big break,...
Chuck Norris, born Carlos Ray Norris, was born in 1940. Long before his career as an action star, Norris was a member of the military, serving in the Air Force. It was during his time there that he earned the nickname "Chuck." Norris began studying martial arts during his time in active service. Once leaving the military, he started teaching karate. Rather amazingly, Norris was the first westerner in history to hold the rank of 8th-degree black belt in taekwondo.
It was in 1972 that Chuck Norris got his big break,...
- 3/10/2020
- by Ryan Scott
- MovieWeb
Mark Medoff, who won a Tony Award for writing Children of a Lesser God and earned an Oscar nom for its movie adaptation, died Tuesday at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, Nm. He was 79.
Children of a Lesser God won the 1980 Tony for Best Play and ran for more than two years and 880 performances at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre. The show about a hearing speech teacher at a school for the deaf who falls for a deaf custodian was turned into a 1986 feature directed by Randa Haines. The film starred William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the role. Hurt and supporting actress Piper Laurie also scored Oscar noms, and the film was up for Best Picture but lost to Platoon.
A revival of Children of a Lesser God played on the Main Stem for six weeks last year. Medoff also penned Prymate,...
Children of a Lesser God won the 1980 Tony for Best Play and ran for more than two years and 880 performances at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre. The show about a hearing speech teacher at a school for the deaf who falls for a deaf custodian was turned into a 1986 feature directed by Randa Haines. The film starred William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the role. Hurt and supporting actress Piper Laurie also scored Oscar noms, and the film was up for Best Picture but lost to Platoon.
A revival of Children of a Lesser God played on the Main Stem for six weeks last year. Medoff also penned Prymate,...
- 4/25/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
We've written nine articles about Logan in the past week, which means 20th Century Fox is in the midst of its first big publicity push for the movie. The studio has been dropping photos left and right on its wponx Instagram page, but now we have a couple of new behind the scenes images from a different source: director James Mangold himself.
Mangold jumped on Twitter and shared a couple of storyboards of a sequence in the movie that involves...well, take a look:
Storyboards by the great @gabrielhardman. pic.twitter.com/kc1oOo6OLQ
— Mangold (@mang0ld) October 13, 2016
That reminds me a lot of a move Chuck Norris pulled in this old movie called Good Guys Wear Black:
Looks like Logan's not messing around this time. Hugh Jackman has hinted at the character using the berserker rage from the comics, but we'll find out if that actually...
Mangold jumped on Twitter and shared a couple of storyboards of a sequence in the movie that involves...well, take a look:
Storyboards by the great @gabrielhardman. pic.twitter.com/kc1oOo6OLQ
— Mangold (@mang0ld) October 13, 2016
That reminds me a lot of a move Chuck Norris pulled in this old movie called Good Guys Wear Black:
Looks like Logan's not messing around this time. Hugh Jackman has hinted at the character using the berserker rage from the comics, but we'll find out if that actually...
- 10/13/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Influential figure in Clint Eastwood's career who directed Magnum Force and Hang 'em High
It is no exaggeration to declare that the film and television director Ted Post, who has died aged 95, contributed greatly to the making of Clint Eastwood into a Hollywood superstar. When Eastwood returned to the Us from Europe, where he had starred in three Sergio Leone "spaghetti" westerns, Post directed him in Hang 'em High (1968), which consolidated Eastwood's screen persona as the impassive, laconic, gun-for-hire loner. A few years later, Post directed Eastwood again, in Magnum Force (1973), the first Dirty Harry sequel, which outdid Don Siegel's original film commercially. Eastwood said that Leone, Siegel and Post were the three most influential directors in his career.
In 1959, the unknown Eastwood – who had appeared in bit parts in 11 films – moved to CBS for his first leading role, as the amiable fresh-faced sidekick Rowdy Yates, in the television western series Rawhide.
It is no exaggeration to declare that the film and television director Ted Post, who has died aged 95, contributed greatly to the making of Clint Eastwood into a Hollywood superstar. When Eastwood returned to the Us from Europe, where he had starred in three Sergio Leone "spaghetti" westerns, Post directed him in Hang 'em High (1968), which consolidated Eastwood's screen persona as the impassive, laconic, gun-for-hire loner. A few years later, Post directed Eastwood again, in Magnum Force (1973), the first Dirty Harry sequel, which outdid Don Siegel's original film commercially. Eastwood said that Leone, Siegel and Post were the three most influential directors in his career.
In 1959, the unknown Eastwood – who had appeared in bit parts in 11 films – moved to CBS for his first leading role, as the amiable fresh-faced sidekick Rowdy Yates, in the television western series Rawhide.
- 8/25/2013
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Prolific TV and film director Ted Post has died at the age of 95.
Although Post had his hand in a number of genres, he's perhaps most famous for his work on Westerns like "The Peacemaker," "Hang 'Em High" and "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood, "Gunsmoke," and "Stagecoach." He also directed Eastwood (pictured above on set) in the "Dirty Harry" sequel "Magnum Force." Eastwood and Post didn't collaborate after that due to various disagreements.
Post also helmed the sequel "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," the pilot for "Cagney and Lacey," and more than a few episodes of "Peyton Place." Some of his more outré offerings include freaky horror exploitation flick "The Baby," "The Harrad Experiment" about swingin' sexual experimentation, and the Chuck Norris actioner "Good Guys Wear Black."
Post's legacy includes Pro Bono Productions, the nonprofit he started in 1996 to elevate the profiles of older actors in show business. "Our industry...
Although Post had his hand in a number of genres, he's perhaps most famous for his work on Westerns like "The Peacemaker," "Hang 'Em High" and "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood, "Gunsmoke," and "Stagecoach." He also directed Eastwood (pictured above on set) in the "Dirty Harry" sequel "Magnum Force." Eastwood and Post didn't collaborate after that due to various disagreements.
Post also helmed the sequel "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," the pilot for "Cagney and Lacey," and more than a few episodes of "Peyton Place." Some of his more outré offerings include freaky horror exploitation flick "The Baby," "The Harrad Experiment" about swingin' sexual experimentation, and the Chuck Norris actioner "Good Guys Wear Black."
Post's legacy includes Pro Bono Productions, the nonprofit he started in 1996 to elevate the profiles of older actors in show business. "Our industry...
- 8/21/2013
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
The movie was shot on film, and was 2812.69m in length. They built a real bridge in Osam, Bulgaria for the movie, and heres the kicker. The bridge is staying behind as part of the railway network!! Schwarzenegger shot his entire role in less than a week, prior to beginning work on The Last Stand Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred this time round. Compared to the original Expendables movie, where he acted, wrote, produced And directed. Simon West will also direct a remake of the 1985 movie, Red Sonja which also starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. No word on whether Arnie will make a cameo. Liam Hemsworth was cast in the original movie, but a script re-write saw his role being cut. A phone call later from Sly and he was in the sequel. Originally, Taylor Lautner was considered for the role. Chuck Norris’s character Booker, is a nod to Good Guys Wear Black,...
- 8/17/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
0:00 - Intro 3:25 - Review: Total Recall 51:45 - Headlines: Vertigo Dethrones Citizen Kane as Best Movie of All Time, Jimmy Fallon to Host Academy Awards?, Jon Chu in Talks for He-Man Movie, Bill Murray Definitely Out of Ghostbusters 3, Eccentric Billionaire Wants to Make a Real Jurassic Park, Killing Them Softly Trailer 1:08:50 - Other Stuff We Watched: Bernie, Horror Express, Cannibal Ferox, Audition, Q: The Winged Serpent, Rec 3: Genesis, River of No Return, The Nesting, Code of Silence, Detachment, Total Recall 2070, Good Guys Wear Black, The Octagon, I Saw the Devil, Stand By Me, Star Trek: Tng on Blu-ray, Toy Story, The 400 Blows 2:19:10 - Junk Mail: Christopher Nolan Paying Tribute to the '60s Batman, What Does a Producer Do, Directors That Never Lived Up to their Potential or Went Downhill, 30 for 30 Faves + Gay Cinema, The King Sound Clip, Ranking the Adam McKay / Will Ferrell Comedies,...
- 8/8/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
When New York Times critic Bosley Crowther reviewed "The Dirty Dozen" upon its release (45 years ago this week, on June 15, 1967), he blasted the World War II action drama for its characters' "hot, sadistic zeal," its "astonishingly wanton" depiction of war, the way its violent-felons-turned-heroes plot "encourag[es] a spirit of hooliganism that is brazenly antisocial" and its "studied indulgence of sadism that is morbid and disgusting beyond words." If a similar action movie came out today, those would all be its selling points. Indeed, in recent decades, we've come to take Robert Aldrich's ultramacho commando flick for granted, not because it hasn't aged well (it still delivers the goods), but because it's been copied by so many movies and TV shows that its innovations seem old hat now. But 45 years ago, it not only pushed the envelope (in ways that disgusted Crowther but so delighted audiences that it was one...
- 6/13/2012
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
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