Action legend dies at 86

Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action movie icon whose toughness became an increasingly exaggerated legend among his adoring fans, has died. He was 86.

His family confirmed the death on Thursday, March 19, with a post to Instagram on Friday, March 20. No cause was cited.

“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,” the statement read. “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,” the statement continued. “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,” the family said. “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.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Norris’ rep for further comment.

Norris, a martial arts teacher and karate champion, was cast by Bruce Lee as the villain Colt in Lee’s 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon.” Their fight scene, set in Rome’s Colosseum, is one of the most famous martial arts screen fights and the rare screen battle that Norris lost (broken neck).

The rising star appeared as tough Texas Ranger Jim “J.J.” McQuade in 1983’s “Lone Wolf McQuade,” a character precursor to his famed “Walker, Texas Ranger” role.

In the 1984 box office smash “Missing in Action,” Norris portrayed one-man-army Colonel Braddock, who returns to Vietnam to free POWs. The next year, Norris defended the United States from a Soviet/Cuban-led terrorist invasion as former CIA Agent Matt Hunter in 1985’s “Invasion U.S.A.” The same mega-year, Norris starred as a Chicago police sergeant battling his way out of a gang war in “Code of Silence.”

Norris teamed with Lee Marvin in 1986’s “The Delta Force,” memorably wreaking solo havoc with a rocket-launching dirt bike in one of the action film’s most over-the-top action sequences.

By the 1990s, Norris transitioned from big-screen muscle to television icon, anchoring CBS’ “Walker, Texas Ranger,” where his blend of martial arts, moral clarity and frontier justice made him a household name across nine seasons (1993-2001) and introduced him to a new generation of fans.

As a senior citizen, Norris experienced an unlikely digital resurgence in the 2000s. A torrent of internet humor known as “Chuck Norris Facts” transformed the star into a mythical, near-invincible figure. The deadpan one-liners exaggerating his strength, speed and toughness to absurd levels, turned Norris into one of the internet’s first global memes. A typical example: Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. He decides what time it is.

Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, Norris devoured the movies of John Wayne growing up. The actor told the New York Times in 1985 he regarded Wayne as his ”substitute father” after his father, an alcoholic, left the family’s home when he was 10. His mother later moved the family of three boys to Torrance, California.

Norris learned karate during an Air Force stint in South Korea and opened a chain of karate schools in southern California while holding the world middleweight karate champion title from 1968 to 1974. Initially reluctant to step into acting, Norris received encouragement and advice from his martial arts student, action star Steve McQueen.

“He told me that I should think about projecting a presence, and never do a part that had a lot of dialogue,” McQueen told the Times. “He said to let the character actors lay out the plot, and that when there were important things to say, you say it, and people will remember.”

While never seeking elected office himself, the patriotic Norris used his celebrity platform to champion conservative activism, appearing in campaign ads, speaking at rallies and engaging with grassroots organizations. The actor drew controversy for a 2012 political ad with his wife, Gena, warning that President Barack Obama’s reelection could lead the country down a path they likened to “1,000 years of darkness.”

The same year Norris played the mercenary Booker in “The Expendables 2,” alongside fellow action screen legends Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Statham. Stallone wrote a scene which featured Booker dramatically saving the entire group of under-attack mercenaries on his own — the highest action star honor.

As the smoke clears, Stallone’s Barney Ross sets up a “Chuck Norris Fact” joke by asking Booker about a rumored cobra bite.

“Yeah. After five days of agonizing pain…the cobra died,” Booker responds.

The action star turned 86 on March 10, nine days before his death, posting a sparring martial arts Instagram video to mark the occasion. “I don’t age,” Norris said in the video. “I level up.”

Norris is survived by his second wife, Gena O’Kelley, whom he married in 1998, and five children: sons Mike and Eric (with first wife Diane Holechek), twins Dakota and Danilee (with O’Kelley), and Dina (from a previous relationship).