Chuck Norris dies: Action star dies at 86
Martial artist and action movie icon Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86. His family said his death was sudden and that he was resting peacefully.
Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action movie icon whose toughness made him an increasingly exaggerated legend among enthusiasts, has died. He was 86 years old.
His family confirmed his death on Thursday, March 19th, and posted on Instagram on Friday, March 20th. No cause of death was mentioned.
“It is with deep hearts that my family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances a secret, we want you to know that he was peacefully surrounded by his family,” the statement said. “To the world, he was a martial artist, an actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a wonderful brother, and the heart of our family.”
“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and unwavering dedication to those he loved,” the statement continued. “Through his work, discipline and kindness, he inspired millions of people around the world and left a lasting impact on many lives.”
“While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and the unforgettable moments we were able to share with him. The love and support he received from his fans around the world meant so much to him and our family is truly grateful. You were more than just fans to him, you were friends,” the family said. “We know that many of you have heard about his recent hospitalization and we sincerely appreciate the prayers and support you have sent him. As we grieve this loss, we ask for the family’s privacy during this time.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Norris’ representatives for further comment.
Norris, a martial arts teacher and karate champion, was cast as the villain Colt in Bruce Lee’s 1972 film The Way of the Dragon. Their fight scene, set in the Colosseum in Rome, is one of the most famous martial arts screen fights, and also the rare screen battle that Norris lost (to a broken neck).
The rising star appeared as tough Texas Ranger Jim “JJ” McQuade in 1983’s “Lone Wolf McQuade,” a character that foreshadowed his famous “Walker, Texas Ranger” role.
In the 1984 box office blockbuster film Missing in Action, Norris played Colonel Braddock, a one-man soldier who returns to Vietnam to free prisoners of war. The following year, Norris played Matt Hunter, a former CIA agent who defended the United States from a Soviet/Cuban-led terrorist invasion in 1985’s Invasion USA. That same year, Norris played a Chicago police sergeant who escapes from a gang war in Code of Silence, which also became a blockbuster.
Norris teamed up with Lee Marvin in 1986’s Delta Force, where he memorably single-handedly wreaked havoc on a rocket-launched dirt bike in one of the most outrageous action scenes in action movies.
By the 1990s, Norris had gone from big-screen muscleman to television icon, anchoring CBS’s Walker, Texas Ranger, whose blend of martial arts, moral clarity, and frontier justice made him a household name and introduced him to a new generation of fans over nine seasons (1993-2001).
As a senior citizen, Norris experienced an unexpected digital resurgence in the 2000s. A torrent of Internet humor known as “Chuck Norris Facts” has turned the star into a mythical, nearly invincible figure. Norris became one of the internet’s first global memes, with deadpan sentences that exaggerated his strength, speed, and toughness to absurd levels. Classic example: Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. He decides the time.
Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma, Norris grew up devouring John Wayne movies. Wayne told the New York Times in 1985 that he considered Wayne a “father figure” because his father, an alcoholic, left home when he was 10. Later, her mother moved her family of three boys to Torrance, California.
Norris learned karate while serving in the Korean Air Force, opened a chain of karate schools in Southern California, and held the title of World Middleweight Karate Champion from 1968 to 1974. Initially reluctant to enter the world of acting, Norris received encouragement and advice from martial arts student and action star Steve McQueen.
“He told me I should think about having a presence and never do dialogue-heavy roles,” McQueen told the Times. “He said to have character actors explain the plot, say when something important is going to happen, and people will remember.”
Although the patriotic Norris did not seek elected office himself, he used his celebrity platform to champion conservative causes, appearing in campaign ads, speaking at rallies, and engaging with grassroots organizations. The actor caused controversy in 2012 when he and his wife, Gina, released a political ad in which they warned that President Barack Obama’s re-election could send the country on a path that has been likened to “1,000 years of darkness.”
That same year, Norris starred alongside action film legends Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jason Statham, playing the mercenary Booker in The Expendables 2. Stallone wrote a scene in which Booker dramatically saves a group of mercenaries under attack, a scene that became the action star’s highest honor.
When the smoke clears, Stallone’s Barney Ross asks Booker about the rumor that he was bitten by a cobra, making a “Chuck Norris fact” joke.
“Yes,” Booker replied, “After five days of suffering, the cobra died.”
The action star celebrated his 86th birthday on March 10, nine days before his death, and commemorated the occasion by posting a martial arts sparring video on Instagram. “I’m not getting old,” Norris said in the video. “I’ll level up.”
Norris has five children with his second wife, Gina O’Kelly, whom he married in 1998, sons Mike and Eric (from his first wife, Diane Holecek), twins Dakota and Danilee (from his marriage to O’Kelly), and Dina (from a previous relationship).
