Chuck Norris, the legendary martial artist and Hollywood action star best known for his role in Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed.
In a statement shared on Friday, his family described his passing as sudden. “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the message read, adding that he was surrounded by loved ones and passed away peacefully.
Before rising to fame on screen, Norris built an extraordinary career in martial arts. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion and later founded his own style, Chun Kuk Do, as well as the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded thousands of black belts worldwide. He was also honoured with a 10th-degree black belt, the highest possible rank.
Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, he grew up in modest circumstances before moving to California as a teenager. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force in 1958, where he began training in martial arts during a deployment to Korea.
Following his discharge, Norris opened a martial arts studio that grew into a successful chain, attracting celebrity students including Steve McQueen, who later encouraged him to pursue acting.
He made his film debut in The Wrecking Crew and gained international recognition after starring opposite Bruce Lee in Return of the Dragon, featuring one of cinema’s most iconic fight scenes.
Norris went on to star in numerous action films, including Missing in Action and The Delta Force, before achieving his greatest fame on television with Walker, Texas Ranger, which ran for nine seasons.
In later years, he continued to make occasional appearances on screen, including roles in The Expendables 2 and Agent Recon, while also becoming a pop culture icon known for his larger-than-life persona.
Norris leaves behind a lasting legacy in both martial arts and entertainment, remembered as one of the defining action stars of his generation.
Leave a Reply