Most assume that Chuck Norris began his acting career in 1972 with The Way of The Dragon, but facts say otherwise. Apparently, Chuck Norris made an impression on Bruce Lee much before that and bagged a minor role in a 1968 movie called The Wrecking Crew. Mathew Polly, the author of Bruce Lee: A Life, shed light on how the two forces came together for a lesser-known movie.

Apparently, Lee was the Karate advisor, and he finalized his friends, Chuck Norris and Mike Stone, for a small role in it. It is interesting to ask why Bruce Lee chose his friends for such a minor role. Let us find out about the complete story in this article.

Quality was paramount for Bruce Lee and his friends delivered that

While working as the karate advisor for The Wrecking Crew, Bruce Lee had to find suitable actors who can match up to the role of bodyguards in the movie. However, even after keeping an open audition for everyone, Lee wasn’t able to find a perfect match for the roles. Although thousands of martial artists took part in the audition, no one was good enough for the Little Phoenix. 

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In a quest to find a decent actor, Lee decided to present a demonstration to the candidates present there in the audition. Henceforth, he asked Stone and Norris to show them what Lee expects from the people auditioning there. As per the biography Bruce Lee: A Life, Lee said, “This is what I am looking for. If you can’t do some of these things at that level, then I’m not interested. You can leave.” 

Read More | Despite Being 5’8” Tall, Chuck Norris Once Revealed How Bruce Lee Was ‘Incredibly Strong for His Size’

Surprisingly, the demonstration led to most of the crowd leaving the venue. Moreover, eventually, that’s how Lee ended up finalizing both Mike Stone and Chuck Norris for the bodyguard’s role in The Wrecking Crew. 

Lee’s The Way of The Dragon took Norris to Hollywood

As it is popularly known, Bruce Lee recorded the iconic scene wherein he was seen fighting against Chuck Norris in the 1972 movie, The Way of The Dragon. That ten-minute choreographed fight scene is still counted as one of the best iconic fight scenes in the cinematic world. 

Bruce Lee chose Norris for this role as well. This time, since Lee was the director, actor, and writer of the film, it was rather an easy decision for the Little Phoenix to make his choice. While the scene is still a revered repertoire, it also meant that Chuck Norris was given the doors to make his grand entry into Hollywood. 

Watch This Story: Relive the Iconic on-Screen Fights of the GOAT Bruce Lee From His Movie Collection

Did you already know that Chuck Norris made his Hollywood debut in The Wrecking Crew in 1968? In addition, do you count The Way of The Dragon‘s fight scene in your top-5 fight scenes in cinematic history? If not, which is your favorite fight sequence? Let us know the answers in the comment section.