Howard Jackson, 54; Martial Arts Stuntman With Chuck Norris
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Howard Jackson, 54, who parlayed his martial arts skills into stunt work with Chuck Norris in films and television, died March 7 of leukemia at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte.
A native of Detroit, Jackson was a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in the early 1970s when he met Norris at a karate exhibition. After his discharge from the military, Jackson trained with Norris at his Torrance studio and with his traveling team of martial artists.
After his retirement from competition in karate, kickboxing and boxing, Jackson worked as Norris’ bodyguard and personal trainer. He acted and performed stunts in “The Delta Force” and other martial arts-themed films as well as episodes of Norris’ “Walker, Texas Ranger” TV series.