Norman Burton (December 5, 1923 - November 29, 2003), occasionally credited as Normann Burton, was an American film and television actor.
Born in New York City, Burton was a student of The Actor's Studio. After early work on stage, he broke into films with a minor role in Fright (1956).
His career in film and television was long and relatively successful, but he never achieved major recognition. In the movies, he is best-known for his unconventional (and frequently disparaged) performance as Felix Leiter in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971). On television, he is best known for his performance as IADC boss Joe Atkinson on the television series Wonder Woman.
Throughout his life, Burton was a devotee of the method school of acting, and taught method acting in Lakeside, California. He died in 2003 in an car accident while returning to his home in Mexico.
Norman Burton is reportedly a graduate of The Actor's Studio in New York. He appeared in professional stage productions of "Sound of Hunting", "Anna Christie" and José Quintero (I)'s production of Behan's "The Quare Fellow" in New York City. His film and TV career ran hot and cold, varying from good roles in major films to supporting roles in grade-B outings. A surprisingly little-remembered actor, he died in 2003.
