1. Overview
Michael R. Norris (born October 4, 1962) is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and stunt actor. He is widely recognized as the eldest son of renowned actor and martial arts champion Chuck Norris. Throughout his career, Norris has taken on various roles in the film industry, including acting in lead roles, and has also established himself as a director and producer, notably through his own film studio, 2nd Fiddle Entertainment.
2. Early life
Michael R. Norris was born on October 4, 1962, in Redondo Beach, California. He is the eldest son of the acclaimed martial artist and actor Chuck Norris and his first wife, Dianne Holechek (née Holecheck).
3. Career
Michael R. Norris has pursued a multifaceted career in the film industry, encompassing roles as an actor, director, and producer. He co-owns 2nd Fiddle Entertainment, a film studio, with his wife, through which he has developed several projects.
3.1. Acting career
Norris began his acting career with his first film appearance in 1979 in A Force of One, where he played a pizza deliveryman. He quickly moved on to more prominent roles, including Scott James at eighteen in The Octagon in 1980. His early lead roles included Savoy Brown in the 1986 drama film Born American, which is also known by the title Arctic Heat. He further established his presence in action films, starring as Mike Hawkins in Survival Game (1987), an unknown lead in Leg Up (1990), and Greg Lassiter in the 1991 action film Delta Force 3: The Killing Game.
He continued to take on lead roles in films such as Death Ring (1992) as Matt Collins, Ripper Man (1995) as Mike Lazo, Carnival of Wolves (1996) as Bob, and Dragon Fury II (1996) as Molech. In 1998, he appeared in the TV movie Prime Time Comedy playing various characters, and in 1999, he was Sergeant Mike Morton in Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol. His later acting credits include Billy Rians in The Rage Within (2001), Chet McGrady in Bleed (2002), and Jux Jonas in Bells of Innocence (2003). He also had an uncredited role as a Mutant in Six: The Mark Unleashed (2004) and appeared as a Delta Vee Security Guard in Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005).
3.2. Directing and Production
Beyond acting, Norris has significantly contributed to the film industry as a director and producer. He and his wife own 2nd Fiddle Entertainment, a movie studio responsible for several of his projects. Through this studio, Norris has written, produced, and directed a number of films.
His directorial and production credits include the 2009 Christian film Birdie & Bogey, in which he also starred as Danny O'Conner. He also wrote, produced, and directed Maggie's Passage (2009) and I Am Gabriel (2012), starring in the latter as Chad Smith. Other films he directed include Mission Air (2014), Amerigeddon (2016), where he also appeared as Harlan, and The Crossroads of Hunter Wilde (2019), in which he also starred as Hunter Wilde.
4. Personal life
Michael R. Norris is married to Valerie Norris. The couple exchanged vows on May 23, 1992. They have three children, with their first child born in 1995, followed by twins in 2000.
He has a brother named Eric, who is also a son of Chuck Norris and Dianne Holechek. Through his father, Michael is the nephew of Aaron Norris, a film producer and director. He is also the godson of Gena Norris, Chuck Norris's second wife, and has a half-brother and two half-sisters from his father's subsequent marriage.
5. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | A Force of One | Pizza Deliveryman | First film |
| 1980 | The Octagon | Scott James At Eighteen | |
| Final Cut | Bar Patron | ||
| 1982 | Forced Vengeance | Unknown | |
| 1983 | Young Warriors | Fred | |
| 1986 | Born American | Savoy Brown | First lead role; also known as Arctic Heat |
| 1987 | Survival Game | Mike Hawkins | Lead role |
| 1990 | Leg Up | Unknown | Lead role |
| 1991 | Delta Force 3: The Killing Game | Greg Lassiter | Lead role |
| 1992 | Death Ring | Matt Collins | Lead role |
| 1993 | The Beverly Hillbillies | Dancer | |
| 1993 | City Ranger | Unknown | |
| 1995 | Ripper Man | Mike Lazo | Lead role |
| 1996 | Carnival of Wolves | Bob | Lead role |
| Dragon Fury II | Molech | Lead role | |
| Hard Connection | Unknown | ||
| 1998 | Logan's War | Unknown | |
| 1998 | Prime Time Comedy | Various Characters | TV movie |
| 1999 | Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol | Sergeant Mike Morton | |
| 2001 | The Rage Within | Billy Rians | Lead role |
| 2002 | Bleed | Chet McGrady | |
| 2003 | Bells of Innocence | Jux Jonas | Lead role |
| To Live Is To Die | Student | ||
| 2004 | Six: The Mark Unleashed | Mutant | (uncredited) |
| Trip In A Summer Dress | Willy | Short film | |
| Birdie and Bogey | Danny O'Conner | Lead role; also director | |
| 2005 | Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire | Delta Vee Security Guard | |
| 2009 | Maggie's Passage | Max | Also writer and producer |
| A Greater Yes: The Story of Amy Newhouse | Kevin | ||
| 2012 | I Am... Gabriel | Chad Smith | Also director |
| 2014 | Mission Air | Director | |
| 2016 | Amerigeddon | Harlan | Also director |
| 2017 | Saving the Tin Man | Steve Zagano | |
| 2019 | The Crossroads of Hunter Wilde | Hunter Wilde | Also director |