Iconic actor and martial artist Chuck Norris died on Thursday morning, according to a family statement posted on his Instagram account on Friday morning.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the post reads.
“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.”
The statement continued, “While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him. The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends. We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way. As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time. Thank you for loving him with us.”
Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor. At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California and joined the U.S. Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.
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“I grew up extremely shy and introverted all my life — and non-athletic,” Norris once said during an appearance on “The 700 Club.” “People have a hard time believing that, but again, not having a father around, being shy, I just never participated in sports that much. It wasn’t until I went to Korea out of high school and got exposed to the martial arts for the first time and was just completely enamored with the physical ability of the martial arts and making my black belt.”
After his honorable discharge in 1962, he opened a martial arts studio, which later expanded into a chain of studios attended by the likes of Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley and Bob Barker. McQueen, he once said, was responsible for getting him into acting.
His first appearance was a small, uncredited role in 1968’s “The Wrecking Crew,” and he appeared in a handful of films in the early ‘70s while he was also competing in martial arts. After retiring from competitive karate in 1974, he wasn’t sure about his next move, but McQueen suggested he step further into Hollywood.
“I jumped into films when I was in my mid-30s,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1988. “I had no experience, I’d never even done a high school play. And here I’m trying to jump into the acting field. If I looked at it in a negative way, I would have … given up. But from training myself over the years to think positively and to realize that if there was a will there was a way, I was able to achieve success.”
He went on to act in more than 20 movies, such as “Missing in Action,” “The Delta Force” and “Sidekicks.”
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In 1993, he took on his most famous role, as a crime-fighting lawman in TV’s “Walker, Texas Ranger.” The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.
Norris’ last role was in 2024’s “Agent Recon.”
In addition to acting and martial arts, Norris put a lot of work into philanthropy. In 1990, he started Kickstart Kids with the help of President George H. W. Bush. The organization adds karate to physical education programs in schools across the state of Texas, with character-building lessons built in. Its website reports that more than 120,000 children have been enrolled in the program since its inception.
Norris was also outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights and backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president’s 80th birthday. As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Gena O’Kelley, sons Mike and Eric, and daughters Dakota, Danilee and Dina.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
