Chuck Norris, the legendary Hollywood actor and martial artist known for portraying indestructible good guys and inspiring endless “facts” about his phantasmic strength, 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 to Instagram.
His death was sudden and occurred while in the company of his family on Thursday morning, they said, while declining to share more details.
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Norris, known for starring in the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” had been hospitalized in Hawaii a day before, TMZ reported.
His family expressed gratitude for the prayers and support that they said he received following his hospitalization.
“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,” they said. “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.”
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Only 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 almost a decade on the hit ’90s TV series. He appeared in dozens of films over his nearly 60-year acting career, several times as himself.
He first picked up 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, earning the title of World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion for six years straight and introducing himself to fellow martial artist and Hollywood legend Bruce Lee, according to a profile about Norris on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
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“All I wanted to do in movies was be a positive image,” Norris told The New York Times in 1993. “I wanted to be likable, as I do 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 movies, I never attack anyone. I don’t cause trouble, but I end it.”
In addition to largely having a good-guy persona in his acting roles, he inspired endless jokes — or “facts” — about his tough-guy reputation.
“Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants,” is one. “His computer has no ‘backspace’ button because he never makes mistakes,” is another.
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Horror novelist Stephen King was among those sharing their favorite Chuck Norris jokes on social media following news of the actor’s death ― with the author also admitting Norris’ performance in the 1982 sci-fi action horror film “Silent Rage” “scared hell out of my boys … and me.”
“My fave Chuck Norris joke: Chuck doesn’t flush the toilet, he scares the shit out of it,” King wrote. “Second fave: When he was born, Chuck Norris drove his mother home from the hospital.”
Outside of acting and martial arts, Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs, support of gun rights, and conservative political views, with him prominently campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in the 2008 primaries, and endorsing President Donald Trump in 2016.
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He also wrote for the extreme right-wing website WorldNetDaily, which is known for circulating conspiracy theories like President Barack Obama not being born in the U.S., and widespread voter fraud during the 2020 election.
In 2015, Norris joined in raising alarm about a conspiracy theory, one at the time promoted by Alex Jones and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, that the U.S. military was training for a hostile military takeover under the Obama administration.
“The U.S. 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 the Jade Helm 15 operation.
A former director of the CIA and NSA later said conspiracies over the training exercise were fueled by Russian bots and the American alt-right media.
Fellow action stars Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren, who appeared with Norris in the 2012 film “The Expendables 2,” were among those quick to laud Norris in online tributes.
“I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family,” wrote Stallone.
“Chuck Norris is the champ. Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model,” wrote Lundgren. “Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. We will miss you, my friend.”
Norris’ final film, “Zombie Plane,” a horror comedy about celebrities-turned-secret agents banding together to fight zombies, is set for release early next year, TMZ reported.
