Alexander Hugh "Alex" Norton (born 27 January 1950) is a Scottish television and film actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as DCI Matt Burke in the STV detective drama series Taggart and Eddie in the Renford Rejects. He has also had roles in internationally successful films including Braveheart, Local Hero and Les Misérables. Norton was born in Househillwood and spent his childhood in Moffat Street in the Gorbals before moving to Pollokshaws. He discovered acting at the age of 14 via an out-of-school drama group. This led to his part in the TV series Dr. Finlay's Casebook and with it the decision that acting was what he wanted to concentrate on. Because of his background and his father's lack of approval of his chosen career, Alex decided to avoid the traditional route into acting and instead worked from part to part. In 1973 he became one of the founder members of the 7:84 company, touring Scotland with The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil. In the 1970s he met his wife, Sally Kinghorn. They met on the set of a BBC Schools series. She and he have 3 sons, Jamie, Rory, and Jock. Also, he was presented with the opportunity to play a part in Peter Jackson's "King Kong" (2005); however, he could not accept because it happened to interfere with the TV project he was currently working on.
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