An Australian actor and martial artist who faced off in movies against Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan was felled last year by a heart attack after doubling the dosage of peptides prescribed by his doctor, according to a coroner’s report.The death of 75-year-old Richard Norton was “was triggered by his injection” of peptides, Melbourne-based coroner David Ryan concluded in a report filed Wednesday in the Coroners Court of Victoria.“Richard had been taking amounts of the medication in excess of the dose prescribed by his medical practitioner.”Two days before he died on March 30, 2025, Norton told his doctor’s nurse that “he had been administering double the prescribed dose of CJC1295 & Ipamorelin,” the report states.“The nurse advised Richard that from the following week he ought to only administer the prescribed dose.”The death of Norton appears to be the first confirmed fatality Down Under linked to unapproved peptides, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.Peptides are small proteins that have been promoted by online influencers and others as treatments for everything from faster healing and younger-looking skin to better sleep and even a longer life.
In addition to being a first-class film fighter, Norton also trained Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck, Tom Hardy, Scarlett Johansson and Margot Robbie, and previously worked as a stuntman and bodyguard for rock legends like David Bowie and Stevie Nicks.Norton was recovering from shoulder surgery when he went to see Dr.
Jerzy Muchnicki in March 11, 2025, complaining of fatigue and pain “and advised that he was interested in peptide therapy.”He admitted to Muchnicki that he’d previously been prescribed peptides by another practitioner to treat similar symptoms.Muchnicki reviewed Norton’s medical history and “discussed in detail what was involved with peptide therapy, including the experimental nature of the treatment,” the report states.“They also discussed the potential ...