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<\/p>\nChuck Norris \u2014 the legendary martial artist and action movie icon known for films like The Delta Force and Missing in Action \u2014 has died at 86, according to reports.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe lived life with faith\u201d
\nHis family confirmed he passed away Thursday morning in Hawaii, sharing an emotional statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday [Thursday] morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
They added, \u201cHe lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to TMZ, the Oklahoma-born father of five had reportedly been hospitalized just a day or two earlier, and the situation appeared sudden.<\/p>\n
According to a source who spoke with him on Wednesday, he had been working out and was in an upbeat, jovial mood.<\/p>\n
Iconic actor
\nA true icon of the 1980s action era, Chuck Norris became a household name through his martial arts films and later as Cordell Walker on the hit TV series Walker, Texas Ranger.<\/p>\n
Though he stepped back from major acting roles in recent years, he made occasional appearances, including in The Expendables 2 (2012).<\/p>\n
Beyond Hollywood, Norris was a highly accomplished martial artist, earning black belts in multiple disciplines. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989 and was even named an honorary Texas Ranger in 2010.<\/p>\n
He also shared a long-standing friendship with martial arts legend Bruce Lee \u2014 the two trained together in the 1960s and co-starred in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon.<\/p>\n
\u201dBruce and I met when I won the world (karate) title in New York City in 1968. He was doing that TV series The Green Hornet at the time. He was at the tournament as a special guest. We hit it off pretty well and so we started working out together in Los Angeles for a couple of years,\u201d Chuck once explained.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In recent years, Norris endured personal loss, including the deaths of his mother in 2024 and his first wife, Dianne Holechek, in December.<\/p>\n
Still, he remained active and connected with fans. Just days ago, in a post celebrating his 86th birthday, he joked, \u201cI don\u2019t age \u2026 I level up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even off-screen, Norris stayed a cultural phenomenon, with viral memes cementing his reputation as an unstoppable force.<\/p>\n
Born Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma in 1940, he later earned the nickname \u201cChuck\u201d during his service in the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1958 to 1962.<\/p>\n
After serving and mastering his skills in martial arts the fighter, who is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and Judo, opened a karate studio. It became a hang out place for celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley, and the Osmonds.<\/p>\n
It was his celebrity friends encouraged him to try acting and he became a movie star in the \u201980s.<\/p>\n
He is survived by his children, including actor Mike Norris and NASCAR driver Eric Norris.<\/p>\n
21<\/p>\n
Chuck Norris \u2014 the legendary martial artist and action movie icon known for films like The Delta Force and Missing in Action \u2014 has died at 86, according to reports.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe lived life with faith\u201d
\nHis family confirmed he passed away Thursday morning in Hawaii, sharing an emotional statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday [Thursday] morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
They added, \u201cHe lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nAccording to TMZ, the Oklahoma-born father of five had reportedly been hospitalized just a day or two earlier, and the situation appeared sudden.<\/p>\n
According to a source who spoke with him on Wednesday, he had been working out and was in an upbeat, jovial mood.<\/p>\n
Iconic actor
\nA true icon of the 1980s action era, Chuck Norris became a household name through his martial arts films and later as Cordell Walker on the hit TV series Walker, Texas Ranger.<\/p>\n
Though he stepped back from major acting roles in recent years, he made occasional appearances, including in The Expendables 2 (2012).<\/p>\n
Beyond Hollywood, Norris was a highly accomplished martial artist, earning black belts in multiple disciplines. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989 and was even named an honorary Texas Ranger in 2010.<\/p>\n
He also shared a long-standing friendship with martial arts legend Bruce Lee \u2014 the two trained together in the 1960s and co-starred in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon.<\/p>\n
\u201dBruce and I met when I won the world (karate) title in New York City in 1968. He was doing that TV series The Green Hornet at the time. He was at the tournament as a special guest. We hit it off pretty well and so we started working out together in Los Angeles for a couple of years,\u201d Chuck once explained.<\/p>\n
Sygma via Getty Images
\nIn recent years, Norris endured personal loss, including the deaths of his mother in 2024 and his first wife, Dianne Holechek, in December.<\/p>\n
Still, he remained active and connected with fans. Just days ago, in a post celebrating his 86th birthday, he joked, \u201cI don\u2019t age \u2026 I level up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even off-screen, Norris stayed a cultural phenomenon, with viral memes cementing his reputation as an unstoppable force.<\/p>\n
Born Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma in 1940, he later earned the nickname \u201cChuck\u201d during his service in the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1958 to 1962.<\/p>\n
After serving and mastering his skills in martial arts the fighter, who is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and Judo, opened a karate studio. It became a hang out place for celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley, and the Osmonds.<\/p>\n
It was his celebrity friends encouraged him to try acting and he became a movie star in the \u201980s.<\/p>\n
He is survived by his children, including actor Mike Norris and NASCAR driver Eric Norris.<\/p>\n
Actor Chuck Norris poses during a book signing for his new book \u201cAgainst All Odds\u201d at Borders Books on October 4, 2004 in Northridge, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown\/Getty Images).
\nA larger-than-life figure both on and off the screen, Chuck Norris leaves behind a legacy that defined an era of action entertainment.<\/p>\n
Rest in peace, Chuck!<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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