Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, his family revealed on Instagram on March 20
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"To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family," the statement read
Norris, a legendary action star, famously starred in hits including An Eye for an Eye and the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger
Chuck Norrishas died at the age of 86.
Norris first found fame in karate films of the 1980s, includingA Force of OneandAn Eye for an Eye. By the end of the decade, he was established as one of Hollywood's biggest action stars. He starred in the TV seriesWalker, Texas Ranger, which premiered in 1993.
The actor's family confirmed his death via a statement released on hisInstagramFriday, March 20.
"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the statement read. "While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.""To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.""He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives," it concluded.
The actor, who turned 86 earlier this month, was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday, March 19,TMZpreviously reported. This came just days after Norris celebrated his birthday with an Instagram post of himself boxing and training on March 10.
Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Okla. in 1940. His mother was Irish and his father, he said, was Cherokee. In his 1988 memoirThe Secret of Inner Strength: My Story, Norris opened up about his father's alcoholism and how it affected his childhood and adolescence." It wasn't until my dad came home from WW II that he really started to drink,"Norris told PEOPLEin 1988. But at his worst, he would leave the family for months at a time, then return to wreak havoc.
"His absences were actually pleasant times," Norris explained. "My mom was working — just menial jobs, since she had only a ninth-grade education — but there was none of the tension, the tippy-toeing around, like there is when there is someone in the house who's liable to blow up at any moment." The family also moved around a lot, which Norris felt kept him from making lasting connections.
"The biggest problem I had was poor self-image, which was probably the main cause of my shyness. I was always afraid of saying the wrong thing, so I wouldn't speak much," he explained.
After graduating from high school, Norris joined the Air Force, and while stationed in Korea he learned karate. He wasn't good at first, telling PEOPLE in 1980, "Nothing comes easily to me." But he stuck with long, daily workouts because "for the first time, I wanted to make something of my life."
When he returned from the Air Force, he worked a side gig as a karate teacher. "When I came back to the States, some GIs asked me to teach them, so I arranged to give a demonstration and a talk," he said in 1988. As he began to speak, he panicked but kept going. "It was the first time I forced myself to crack that egg of insecurity I'd carried all through my life. And from then on, I kept forcing myself to go a little further, until I had completely overcome it."
He also competed in the sport and won consecutive middleweight titles in 1968. His classes became popular with celebrities, including Bob Barker and Marie Osmond. One of his students,Steve McQueen, encouraged him to get into movies.
After Norris metBruce Leeat a competition, they became friends. The legendary martial artist cast Norris in his 1972 filmWay of the Dragon. The film grossed an estimated $130 million worldwide and set Norris on his path to stardom.
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He appeared in 1974'sYellow Faced Tigerand had his first starring role in the 1977 action flickBreaker! Breaker!In 1978 he starred inGood Guys Wear Black. His next films includedA Force of One,The OctagonandAn Eye for an Eye. His first major studio film was the action horrorSilent Rage. In 1983, he starred inLone Wolf McQuade.
Though almost all his movies were R-rated, he told PEOPLE in 1985 that he didn't think they were actually that violent. "The buildup makes it look like more. I do violence in a self-defense way," he said. He also did less and less martial arts in every film, aiming to expand the audience. They also avoided sex, drugs and alcohol, as Norris wanted his heroes to be an example to young people.
He starred in 1984'sMissing in Actionand 1985'sCode of Silence, a crime drama that he hoped would establish himself not just as an action star but an actor. "I've worked so hard to get rid of that karate image," he said in 1985. More films for Norris includedFirewalker,The Hitman,Sidekicks,Hellbound,Top DogandForest Warrior.
Walker, Texas Rangerpremiered on CBS in 1993, with Norris starring as the title hero. It ultimately ran for eight seasons, but had early trouble. Ten days before it was set to premiere, Cannon Television, the studio that produced it, shut down after filming three episodes. When those episodes found strong ratings, CBS stepped in to produce it. Though the show aired on Saturday nights, by 1996 it was a Top 10 show.
"I've finally gotten the show to where I want it, and that's to a place where you really don't know what to expect each Saturday," Norris told theLos Angeles Timesin 1996. "One week we might have an episode about the peer pressure on kids to become involved in street gang violence, and the next week is something that is fairly silly and humorous, and the next is a race-against-time type drama with Walker trying to rescue a child that is trapped in a well."
He added, "There's heart and it's emotional and gripping," saying that he thought it took a few years for people to stop thinking of him as just an action movie guy. The series ended in 2001, but he also reprised the role in the 2005 TV movieWalker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.
Later roles for Norris includedBells of Innocence,DodgeBall: A True Underdog StoryandThe Expendables 2.
In 2005, Norris found new fans thanks to the Internet meme "Chuck Norris facts," where people would spread hyperbolic facts about the actor. The meme was started by Ian Spector in 2005. Spector toldESPNin 2023 that he met Norris soon after the meme became popular and got his blessing to continue. Norris said his favorite fake fact was, "They wanted to put Chuck Norris' face on Mount Rushmore. But the granite wasn't hard enough for his beard."
Norris established the United Fighting Arts Federation and Kickstart Kids in 1990, hoping to use martial arts to keep kids away from drugs. He also worked as a spokesperson for the U.S. Veterans Administration. A longtime Republican, he endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Norris married Dianne Kay Holechek, his high school classmate, in 1958. They shared sons Mike and Eric. He also welcomed a daughter, Dina, in 1963 during an extramarital affair; he did not meet her until decades later. Norris and Holechek divorced in 1989.
In 1998, he married Gena O'Kelley, who was 23 years his junior. They met on the set ofWalker, Texas Ranger. "I remember thinking, 'Oh, my gosh! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,' he told PEOPLE in 1999. "I finally got the courage to ask her out, and we definitely connected." Norris welcomed twins Dakota and Danilee together in 2001.
Norris is survived by his wife and children.
Read the original article onPeople
