Chuck Norris has died aged 86, his family has confirmed.
An announcement on Chuck Norris’ Instagram page revealed the action movie legend died yesterday morning in Hawaii. Just last week, Norris posted a video to social media, below, showing him beating up an opponent. “I don’t age. I level up,” he said, celebrating his 86th birthday. “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.”
According to TMZ, Norris was hospitalised in Hawaii for a medical emergency before his death. In the statement below, the Norris family called Norris’ death “sudden,” adding that while the circumstances were being kept private, the much-loved martial artist and actor “was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. 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. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.
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. 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.
We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way.
As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time.
Thank you for loving him with us.
With love,
The Norris Family
Born in Oklahoma in 1940, Norris served in the United States Air Force before becoming a household name after playing a villain in 1972 Bruce Lee classic, The Way of the Dragon. With multiple black belts including in Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Brazilian jiu jitsu, Norris established himself as one of the most famous martial arts actors in the world throughout the 80s. Notable Norris movies include 1979’s A Force of One, 1980’s The Octagon, and 1981’s An Eye for an Eye (1981). 1984’s Missing in Action spawned a trilogy, and 1986’s The Delta Force propelled his star status further.
Moving into the 90s, Norris played the title role in CBS television series Walker, Texas Ranger, with his last major film appearance in 2012’s The Expendables 2. In the early 2010s, Norris earned internet fame among an army of younger fans for starring in memes leaning on his toughness. These memes would see his face alongside text that would make outlandish claims about Norris’ strength, such as “Chuck Norris doesn’t turn on the shower, he stares at it until it starts to cry,” and “Chuck Norris can never fill out an online form, because he will never submit.”
Norris emerged as an outspoken political conservative, writing several books with Christian and patriotic themes. Norris is survived by his five children and wife, Gena O’Kelley.
Norris’ granddaughter, Greta, paid tribute to him in a post on Instagram. “You all knew Chuck Norris as the man that counted to infinity twice, the man who got bit by a cobra and the cobra died,” she said. “He was the man that would not do a push up but would push the earth down. Chuck norris was known for many amazing things but what I am most proud of is I got to know him as my Papa. I knew him as the old man that would come to grandparents days at school, my soccer games and cheer me on as proud as he could be. A grandfather that would sit on his rocking chair and listen to me tell him stories and would sit with me watching his movies and reminiscing on all of his life’s achievements with a huge smile on his face. He would play dress up with me and loved to joke around and had a laugh and smile that could bring you out of sadness.”
Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
