
Fresh Air Remembering Action Hero Chuck Norris
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Mar 27, 2026 Chuck Norris, martial-arts champion turned action star, reflects on his karate roots, fight choreography, stunts and screen persona. Augie Meyers, Tex-Mex keyboardist and Vox-organ pioneer, recalls crafting his signature sound, Beatles phone call, and writing bilingual hits. Short, vivid conversations about craft, performance, risk, and musical innovation.
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The Train Roof Fight In Code Of Silence
- For Code of Silence Norris fought atop a moving L train at about 35 mph and worked with a stuntman to rehearse balance and safety before filming.
- They first rehearsed with the train stopped and relied on each other to keep balance 50 feet in the air.
Realism Over Showcase In Fight Choreography
- Norris aims for realism in fight scenes, avoiding unrealistic solo takedowns when outnumbered to maintain dramatic credibility.
- In Code of Silence he intentionally lost a bar-room brawl to reflect realistic limits even for skilled martial artists.
What Breaking The Pain Barrier Really Means
- Breaking the pain barrier is trained tolerance, not masochism; Norris worked through injuries like a broken ankle taped during filming.
- He kept filming eight weeks with a broken ankle in Firewalker, taped rather than casted to continue production.


