Chuck Norris, the martial artist turned screen legend who defined the stoic hero in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and a string of action films, has died at the age of 86. His larger-than-life persona inspired not only a generation of fans but also a wave of internet folklore and even nods from world leaders.
He passed away on Thursday in what his family called a “sudden passing.”
“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.
Long before Hollywood made him a household name, Norris had already built a formidable reputation in the world of martial arts. He dominated the competitive scene as a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. Beyond competition, he developed his own Korean-influenced American system, often referred to as Chun Kuk Do, and established the United Fighting Arts Federation. Through it, more than 3,300 practitioners around the globe have earned black belts under the Chuck Norris System. His contributions to the discipline were later recognized by Black Belt magazine, which inducted him into its hall of fame and credited him with a 10th-degree black belt, the highest distinction in the field.
Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, and spent his early years in modest circumstances. At 12, he relocated with his family to Torrance, California. After finishing high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. It was during his service in Korea that he first immersed himself in martial arts, studying disciplines such as judo and Tang Soo Do.
