Chuck Norris, the Oklahoma-born martial arts champion who became one of Hollywood’s most iconic action stars, died Thursday morning in Hawaii. He was 86.
His family announced his death on Friday in a statement posted to social media.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the statement read. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
“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.”
Norris suffered an unidentified medical emergency in Hawaii and had been rushed to the hospital overnight. A source who had spoken with him Wednesday said he had been working out and was in good spirits.
Norris had posted a video on his 86th birthday March 10 declaring, “I don’t age … I level up.”
“I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young. I’m grateful for another year, good health, and the chance to keep doing what I love. Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know.”
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Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma in 1940, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962, learning Tang Soo Do martial arts while stationed in South Korea. He returned home and became a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion before one of his students, actor Steve McQueen, encouraged him to try acting.
His first breakout role came opposite Bruce Lee in the 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon.”
Through the late 1970s and ’80s, he built a career in films including “Missing in Action,” “The Delta Force,” and “Code of Silence.”
In the 1990s, he reinvented himself on television with “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which ran from 1993 to 2001 and introduced him to a new generation of fans.
He was equally well-known in his later years for his conservative politics and Christian faith. He endorsed Donald Trump in 2016 and went skydiving with President George W. Bush for Bush’s 80th birthday. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989 and was made an honorary Texas Ranger in 2010.
The “Chuck Norris Facts” internet meme made him a cultural icon online long after his peak acting years. He embraced it fully, publishing “The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book” in 2009.
He is survived by his wife, Gena Norris, and five children: Mike, Eric, Dakota, Danilee, and Dina.