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While many will knowChuck Norrishad a nigh workings relationship with martial arts legend Bruce Lee , it ’s not common cognition that he actually turned down a role inEnter the Dragon . As one of themost meme - able action whizz of the 1970sand beyond , following a minor role in undercover agent comedyThe Wrecking Crew , Norris got his big break as a mainvillain in Lee’sThe Way of the Dragon . apply his skill in multiple martial arts disciplines , Norris shot to celebrity portraying Colt , whom Lee ’s Tang Lung defeated at the climactic engagement in the Colosseum .
As one of the most memorable baddie inLee ’s entire filmography , it would have made sense for Norris to show up once again inEnter the Dragon . However , Norris ’s career blend in down a different itinerary as he squeeze natural action film as a run manand went on to star in acclaimed martial artistry release likeA Force of One , Missing in Action , andThe Delta Force . With an incredible life history behind him , Norris now stand alongside Bruce Lee as one of the most well - have it away warlike fine art genius of all prison term .
Chuck Norris Declined To Play O’Hara In Enter The Dragon
Lee Offered Norris A Role In His Final Film
The trueness was thatNorris was actually offered a role inEnter the Dragonbut declined the chance as he was n’t willing to lose to Lee a 2nd time . harmonize to Matthew Polly ’s 2018 Word of God , Bruce Lee : A Life , although Lee want him to portray O’Hara , Norris was more interested in make for main characters from now on . The function of O’Hara ultimately go to Bob Wall , who gave a fantastic performance as the offense chief Han ’s bodyguard . Along with Han ’s hatchet man Bolo , O’Hara was one of two secondary antagonists inEnter the Dragon .
While Wall gave a convincing performance as O’Hara , it ’s inconceivable not to wonder what Norris would have brought to the role . As the ruthless bodyguard responsible for the death of Lee ’s sister Su Lin , there was a sentience of resentment in the twain ’s human relationship that arguably would have made their showdown even more iconic than Norris ’s fight inThe Way of the Dragon . As a musical genre - bending picture that fuse aspects of spy films and blaxploitation cinema , there ’s no denying thatEnter the Dragonwas the defining pic of Lee ’s life history , and the addition of Norris would have been great .
Why Chuck Norris Was Right Not To Appear In Enter The Dragon
Norris Avoided The Curse Of Being Typecast By Forging His Own Path
As a warlike nontextual matter sports fan , it ’s impossible to lament the absence of Norris inEnter the Dragon , although from a career position , he made the right decision . While Lee and Norris ’s calling will always be intrinsically link , Norris used the notoriety he make headway fromThe Way of the Dragonto kickstart his own careeras a leading serviceman . Had Norris appeared inEnter the Dragon , he would have risked being type as just another henchman who always loses in the end .
The legacy of Chuck Norris has far exceeded his time as a Bruce Lee villain , as he later on starred in a train of independent martial artistry movies and major studio releases , became a dealership star , and even made a name for himself on TV .
It would also have been incredibly difficult to duplicate the climactic fight between Lee and Colt inThe agency of the Dragon , and O’Hara almost feels like a step down for Norris . The best affair Norris could have done for his career after asterisk opposite Lee was to carve out his own path and vitrine he had the electric potential to lead his own action movies away from the actor that many considerthe greatest kung fu star of all sentence . HadChuck Norrisaccepted the role , there ’s a chance he never would have graduated to making movies for himself .
Source : Bruce Lee : A biography by Matthew Polly
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon
