Paul Norris studied at the Dayton (Ohio) Art Institute and started working as an illustrator and cartoonist for the Dayton Daily News in the late 1930s. He moved to New York in 1940, where he got a job at Prize Publications, creating the comics 'Power Nelson, Futureman' and 'Yank and Doodle'. Moving to work for National, he launched 'Aquaman', with Mort Weisinger, and collaborated on various other comics.
In 1942, he drew his first newspaper strip, taking over 'Vic Jordan' for the New York Daily PM. After returning from World War II, he was hired by King Features Syndicate, and worked on several comic books starring 'Flash Gordon' and 'Jungle Jim'. Norris was was also the artist of several episodes of 'Secret Agent X-9' during the period 1943-46. His big break came in 1948, when he took over the 'Jungle Jim' Sunday feature from Austin Briggs. In 1952, he took over the 'Brick Bradford' daily strip from Clarence Gray, which he continued until 1987.
Paul Norris was living in Oceanside, California, where he died on 5 November 2007 at the age of 93, survived by two sons.