Australian actor and martial artist Richard Norton has died at the age of 75 after complications from peptide injections triggered a severe allergic reaction that led to cardiac arrest, according to findings released by a coroner in Melbourne.

Norton died on March 30, 2025, but details surrounding his death emerged on October 28, 2026, following an investigation by Victorian Coroner David Ryan.

According to the coroner’s findings, Norton had been using two unapproved peptide products, CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin, which were prescribed by a medical practitioner to address fatigue, shoulder pain, reduced physical recovery and loss of muscle mass.

The investigation revealed that Norton had been administering twice the prescribed dosage. He reportedly disclosed this to a nurse at his doctor’s clinic two days before his death and was advised to follow the recommended dosage.

However, hours after another injection on March 28, 2025, Norton reportedly became hot and flushed before collapsing and becoming unresponsive.

His wife, actress Judy Green, attempted to resuscitate him before emergency responders arrived. He was subsequently taken to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where he died two days later.

The coroner concluded that the injection triggered an anaphylactic reaction, which subsequently led to cardiac arrest.

Following the investigation, Coroner David Ryan recommended that Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review the safety and potential benefits of the peptides and consider imposing stricter restrictions on their use.

The findings also raised concerns about the safety of unapproved peptide treatments, which are increasingly promoted for muscle growth, weight loss, anti-ageing and physical recovery.

Norton was a respected figure in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning several decades as an actor, stuntman, martial artist and fight choreographer.

He appeared alongside Hollywood stars including Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan and contributed to major productions such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Suicide Squad.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Green.