Inside Richard Norton’s final hours: How the actor kept peptide treatment secret from his closest mate before sudden collapse – and the search for answers at his funeral

Fresh details have emerged about the peptide-related death of actor and martial arts legend Richard Norton, who collapsed in front of his devoted wife of 32 years.

The 75-year-old, who trained some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson, was prescribed the substances after a review of his medical history, discussion of the ‘potential risks’ and ‘experimental nature of the treatment’, and having signed an ‘Informed Consent Form for Peptide Therapy’.

His prescribing doctor provided ‘clinical care… at a standard reasonably expected’, according to a report from a professor as part of a Medical Board of Australia investigation. The Daily Mail does not suggest his doctor is accused of or engaged in any wrongdoing.

Prior to seeking treatment, Norton had complained of fatigue and pain and told his doctor he had previously been prescribed peptides by another practitioner. 

At about 9pm on March 28, 2025, Norton injected a dose of two peptides, CJC1295 and ipamorelin, his second that day, before becoming hot and flushed and suddenly collapsing.

His wife, actress Judy Green, desperately performed CPR before paramedics rushed him to hospital, where he died two days later, on March 30.

Now Norton’s best friend, Sensei Fariborz Azhakh, has opened up to the Mail about Norton’s final hours and his shock at discovering he had been injecting peptides, revealing just how health-conscious the actor had been throughout his life.

‘He was the man as far as health and eating goes,’ Mr Azhakh said. 

‘He was such a healthy eater, really careful about what he ate, and I’m just so surprised to hear about peptides because he is just not that type of person. 

‘He never mentioned them to me, and we talked about everything. We were very close.

‘He never mentioned he had health problems. I know he had issues with his shoulder from an injury and he had surgery which involved stem cells, but as far as I’m aware, he had great results from it.’

Norton enjoyed a lengthy career as an actor, stuntman and stunt coordinator, working alongside martial arts legend Chuck Norris on Walker, Texas Ranger and on films including Mad Max: Fury Road.

He also worked as a bodyguard for the likes of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, ABBA and Fleetwood Mac.

Despite his age, Norton remained remarkably active, teaching grappling seminars in the days before his death and posting videos online showing him wrestling with other martial artists.

‘He was still teaching, still working every week and just loved what he did. There were no signs at all that this could have happened,’ Mr Azhakh said.

Mr Azhakh told the Mail he believed Norton collapsed during a grappling seminar; however, the autopsy report contradicts this, stating Norton injected the drugs at 9pm and collapsed shortly after, with no indication he was at the gym at the time. 

The Los Angeles-based martial arts expert had known Norton for 15 years and welcomed him into his home for two weeks just months before his death. 

He flew to Australia in April to attend Norton’s private funeral and offer support to his wife.

‘Judy was with him when it happened. She was always by his side, every seminar, every trip. They were so close,’ he said.

‘They had the most beautiful relationship.’  

But it was at the funeral that Mr Azhakh says he spoke at length with a doctor who had also been a friend and student of Norton. 

He claims the doctor spoke with him about his friend’s sudden death but made no mention of the peptides.

‘He didn’t mention peptides. He didn’t say anything to me about them. The doctor was his friend and student but didn’t say a word.’

It is not suggested that the doctor Mr Azhakh spoke with at the funeral was one of Norton’s prescribing doctors.

Victorian coroner David Ryan found Norton’s death was triggered by an injection of the two peptides, which caused an anaphylactic reaction leading to cardiac arrest.

The court heard Norton had been taking more than the recommended dose and that he had been advised that the treatment was experimental and warned about the potential risks.

The doctor prescribed the peptides on March 11 after Norton underwent blood tests and a CT scan.

Norton subsequently reported that his symptoms were improving and he was feeling good.

But on March 28, just hours before his collapse, he admitted to a nurse that he had been injecting double the prescribed dose.

He was advised to reduce the amount to the prescribed level.

Later that evening, after another injection, Norton complained of feeling hot and flushed before collapsing.

Mr Ryan found the fatal reaction followed Norton’s use of the peptides at doses exceeding those prescribed and recommended that the Therapeutic Goods Administration consider whether further restrictions should be imposed on substances such as CJC1295 and ipamorelin.

He also recommended they be listed as poisons under the Poisons Standard.

For Mr Azhakh, the tragedy has been difficult to comprehend, but he hopes his friend’s death serves as a warning without overshadowing the remarkable life he led.

‘Like Bruce Lee, we should remember him for the way he lived, not the way he died,’ he said.

‘He stood for so many things. It’s sad and people can learn from it, but it was just his time.

‘And he had a great life. He didn’t have any regrets. He took care of Judy.

‘He was just a great guy, so honest and so loving, and yet he could kill people. He really was just one of a kind.

‘So famous, but so down-to-earth and so generous.’