Actor Chuck Norris dies at 86
Chuck Norris, the legendary Hollywood actor and martial artist known for playing indestructible good guys and inspiring endless “facts” about his ghostly strength, He has died at the age of 86, his family announced Friday.
“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,” his family posted in a statement on Instagram.
His death was sudden and occurred while he was in the company of his family on Thursday morning, they said, although they declined to share further details.
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Norris, known for starring in the television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” had been hospitalized in Hawaii a day earlier, TMZ reported.
His family expressed gratitude for the prayers and support they said he received after his hospitalization.
“While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and the unforgettable moments we were fortunate to share with him,” they said. “The love and support he received from fans around the world meant a lot to him, and our family is truly grateful for it. To him, you weren’t just fans, you were his friends.”
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Just a week ago, Norris shared a video of himself boxing with someone while celebrating his birthday and health.
“I don’t age. I level up,” he said in the video.
Norris was a black belt martial artist, Air Force veteran, author, and even an honorary Texas Ranger after nearly a decade on the hit ’90s television series. He appeared in dozens of films over his nearly 60-year acting career, several times as himself.
He first learned martial arts while stationed at an air base in South Korea after enlisting in the Air Force in 1958. After his discharge, he opened a martial arts studio in California and competed in martial arts competitions, winning the title of World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion for six years in a row and submitting to fellow martial artist and Hollywood legend Bruce Lee, according to a profile on Norris on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
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“All I wanted to do in the movies was give a positive image,” Norris told the New York Times in 1993. “I wanted to be likable, like I am in real life. I don’t like violence for violence’s sake. I hated the movie ‘Blue Velvet’, for example. I liked ‘Aladdin’ because it has a positive message. In my films I never attack anyone. “I don’t cause problems, but I end them.”
In addition to largely having a good-guy persona in his acting roles, he inspired countless jokes – or “facts” – about his tough-guy reputation.
“Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares at them until he gets the information he’s looking for,” is one of them. “Your computer doesn’t have a back button because it never makes mistakes,” is another.
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Horror novelist Stephen King was among those who shared their favorite Chuck Norris jokes on social media following news of the actor’s death, and the author also admitted that Norris’ performance in the 1982 sci-fi action horror film “Silent Rage” “scared the hell out of my kids… and me.”
“My favorite Chuck Norris joke: Chuck won’t flush the toilet, it scares the shit out of him,” King wrote. “Second favorite: When he was born, Chuck Norris brought his mother home from the hospital.”
Outside of acting and martial arts, Norris spoke openly about his Christian beliefs, his support for gun rights, and his conservative political views; He campaigned prominently for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in the 2008 primary and endorsed President Donald Trump in 2016.
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He also wrote for the far-right website WorldNetDaily, known for spreading conspiracy theories such as President Barack Obama not being born in the United States and widespread voter fraud during the 2020 election.
In 2015, Norris joined the alarm over a conspiracy theory, at the time promoted by Alex Jones and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, that the US military was training for a hostile military takeover under the Obama administration.
“The US government says, ‘It’s just a training exercise.’ But I’m not sure the term ‘just’ has any reference to reality when the government uses it,” Norris wrote of Operation Jade Helm 15.
A former CIA and NSA director later said that conspiracies about the training exercise were fueled by Russian robots and far-right American media.
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Fellow actors Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren, who appeared with Norris in the 2012 film “The Expendables 2,” were among those quick to praise Norris in online tributes.
“I had a great time working with Chuck. He was all-American in every way. A great man and my deepest condolences to his wonderful family,” Stallone wrote.
“Chuck Norris is the champion. Ever since I was a young martial artist and then started working in film, I always considered him a role model,” Lundgren wrote. “Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. You will be missed, my friend.”
Norris’ latest film, “Zombie Plane,” a horror comedy about celebrities turned secret agents who team up to fight zombies, will be released early next year, TMZ reported.