Chuck Norris (born Carlos Ray Norris) was a legendary American action star, martial arts champion and cultural icon. He was born on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, and died on March 19, 2026, in Kauai, Hawaii, aged 86, following a sudden medical emergency.
He served in the US Air Force from 1958 to 1962, where he first encountered Tang Soo Do martial arts while stationed in South Korea. He went on to become a multiple karate world champion, holding the middleweight professional title for six years, founded his own martial arts system known as the Chuck Norris System, and earned black belts in karate, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu.
His acting career began in 1968, with a breakthrough role as Bruce Lee’s opponent in The Way of the Dragon (1972). He went on to headline a string of action classics including the Missing in Action series, Delta Force and Invasion U.S.A., before finding his most enduring role as the lead in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001), which cemented his status as an icon of screen justice.
Beyond film, Norris authored bestselling books, appeared in commercials for Total Gym fitness equipment, and became a global internet phenomenon through the “Chuck Norris facts,” a viral series of deadpan jokes exaggerating his superhuman toughness.
He is survived by five children and several grandchildren. A devout Baptist with conservative political views, Norris leaves behind a legacy that shaped generations of martial arts and action cinema fans worldwide.
RIP Legend.
