Bob Wall, a martial arts master and Bruce Lee co-star, died at age of 82

Bob Wall, a martial arts instructor, actor, and stuntman who appeared alongside Bruce Lee in the films "The Way of the Dragon," "Enter the Dragon," and "Game of Death," has died at the age of 82. Wall died on Sunday in Los Angeles, according to a statement released by his family to The Hollywood Reporter. They chose to keep the reason of death a secret.

"He was a pillar of strength and inspiration to all who encountered him, and his radiant spirit and legacy will never be forgotten," they wrote.

"He was a brilliant martial artist, a never-ending source of jokes, a gifted speaker and a passionate man whose unconditional love and support were unmatched."

Wall, a 9th-degree black belt, spent years training with his good buddy Chuck Norris, whom he met in the mid-1960s and with whom he shared a karate school chain. They also featured together in 'Code of Silence' (1985), 'Invasion U.S.A.' (1985), 'Firewalker' (1986), 'Hero and the Terror' (1988), 'Sidekicks' (1992), and episodes of 'Walker, Texas Ranger.'

In the 1973 film 'Enter the Dragon,' Lee avenges his sister's death by easily defeating Wall's villainous O'Hara in a competition, then killing his opponent when he attacks him with a shattered bottle. Lee, who relied on realism in all of his film fights (actual bottles were used here, according to Wall), was injured in the action and required sutures.

Wall, who was born in San Jose, California on August 22, 1939, stated his father, Ray, was an alcoholic. "He beat me often, gave me no love, but the terrific beatings toughened me up, and I know that I definitely would not be me without his beatings," he wrote on his website in 2016.

In a 2020 podcast interview with stuntman Bruce Willow, he revealed that he fled home at the age of 13 but returned three years later and "hit (his father) up very severely; he never abused anybody in the family after that."

Wall began wrestling in high school and went on to San Jose State University on a wrestling scholarship before moving to Los Angeles to train with Al Thomas, Gordon Doversola, Gene LeBell, Joe Lewis, Norris, and the Machado Brothers.

Lee, who died in 1973 at the age of 32, only made five films after 1968, three of which starred Wall. He claimed that for 'Way of the Dragon,' he was paid $75 per week and for 'Enter the Dragon,' he was given $500 per week.

"It`s not the money. I said to my wife, `I love this kid,`" he said of Lee.

"He can beat and stomp on me, I have world professional champion after my name." Wall also starred in 'Blood and Bone' (2009), starring Michael Jai White, as the combat coordinator on 'Black Belt Jones' (1974), starring Jim Kelly (whom he had hired for 'Enter the Dragon'). Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen, Jack Palance, Brian Keith, Freddie Prinze Sr., and Arnold Schwarzenegger were among those who learned martial skills from Wall, who was inducted into the Professional Karate Hall of Fame in 1975.

For 'Enter the Dragon,' he also employed Jackie Chan as a stuntman.

Norris awarded him his black belt in Tang Soo Do.

His wife Lillian, children Shana, Kara, Gennine, and Ron, sister-in-law Mary, grandchildren Jason and Boe, as well as his siblings, nieces, and nephews, survive him.