Chuck Norris, the celebrated martial artist and action star known for his roles in films like “The Way of the Dragon” and the long-running television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” died Thursday in Kauai, Hawaii, his family announced Friday. He was 86.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement posted to Instagram. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.” The statement described Norris as “a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.”
News of Norris’s death followed reports on Thursday of a medical emergency. Details surrounding the incident were not immediately released.
Norris rose to prominence as a martial arts champion, becoming a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion. He transitioned to acting, making his film debut in 1972 alongside Bruce Lee in “The Way of the Dragon,” where he played the antagonist Colt. He later starred in a string of popular action films throughout the 1980s, including “Code of Silence,” “Missing in Action,” and “The Delta Force.”
From 1993 to 2001, Norris starred as Sergeant Cordell Walker in the television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” a role that cemented his status as an action icon. Time magazine once described him as “the ultimate tough guy,” noting his success in the “strictly wham-bam B-movie genre.”
In the days leading up to his death, Norris shared a video on social media demonstrating his continued training, accompanied by the caption, “I don’t age. I level up.” He likewise created his own martial arts discipline, Chun Kuk Do.
Norris’s family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans around the world, stating that he considered them “not just fans, you were his friends.” They requested privacy during their time of grief.
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