Chuck Norris, an action movie star and martial arts legend, passed away at the age of 86

Chuck Norris will always be recognized for his famous roles in movies and television shows, including the crime-fighting sheriff in Walker, Texas Ranger. However, the late actor's prominent role in thousands of memes is all that many young people are aware of. 

The memes, known as "Chuck Norris facts," first appeared on message boards in the early 2000s and by the 2010s had developed into a distinct genre. They mockingly described the actor as scary, godlike, and superhuman.

Actors at the time often only performed in films or TV series, but Norris excelled in both, winning over viewers with his 196 appearances across nine seasons of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Chuck Norris is well-known across several genres and eras, whether you are familiar with him from movies, memes, or martial arts.

Over the course of several decades, Norris left behind a legacy that went well beyond memorable battle sequences and sharp one-liners. Because of his martial arts training, his roles always felt real rather than staged, and his on-screen presence could carry a movie or TV show.


Norris maintained his relevance as a meme star, which played up to his prior tough-guy persona, something he relished and encouraged when traditional film fell, and internet culture took over.

After being admitted to a hospital in the state of Hawaii, the 86-year-old passed away on Thursday. 

His family expressed their desire to keep the situation "private" in an online statement. We are incredibly appreciative of the life he led and the priceless times we were fortunate enough to spend with him, even though our hearts are torn," they added. 

The actor's granddaughter, Greta Norris, honored him on social media and disclosed that she was also aware of her grandfather's place in the Internet Hall of Fame. "You all knew Chuck Norris as the man who counted to infinity twice and the man who was bitten by a cobra, and the cobra died," she says. "The world truly lost an icon, and I lost my grandpa."

US President Donald Trump, a number of other celebrities, and the actor's family all paid tribute to him, calling him a "warrior" with a heart “full of love.” 

In the mid-2000s, Norris saw a comeback in popularity due to an early internet meme that featured jokes that were presented as "facts" that exaggerated his strength and powers.


Born in Oklahoma in 1940, Norris enlisted in the US Air Force in his late teens and started practicing martial arts while stationed in South Korea. He finally earned a black belt and won the World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship six times without losing.

Following his shift into acting, Norris starred in over 20 films, including Missing in Action and The Delta Force, after landing his breakthrough role opposite Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon in 1972. 

His renown was solidified by his part in the enduring television series Walker, Texas Ranger.

Chuck Norris was described as a "devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family" by his family in a statement announcing his passing. 

Since then, a number of his family members have spoken to us one-on-one. Danilee, one of his children, described Norris as someone who "loved so deeply and cared for every single person in his life with so much tenderness." Greta, his granddaughter, remarked, "He is the most grounded person ever; in a room full of people, he would make it known that he was listening to you and only you."

Recently, a grandchild and one of his sons also contributed their tributes. Dakota, the other child of Norris and his second wife, Gena O'Kelly, says, "You've been the man I've looked up to my whole life." "You ensured that I was aware of your devotion to me. To be honest, I didn't think there was a day that passed without you saying it.

"Rest Heavenly, Papa" is what Grandson Max writes.

Chuck Norris collaborated with and made connections with prominent politicians both domestically and abroad. 

Former US President George H.W. Bush Sr., former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the people he became close to.


In an Instagram post, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation states that Norris "will be remembered not only for his many talents but also for the warmth and friendship he extended to those who knew him."

Dolph Lundgren, a Swedish martial artist and actor who co-starred with Norris in the 2012 action movie The Expendables 2 is honoring his former co-star. Lundgren says of Norris, "I always looked up to him as a role model since I was a young martial artist and later got into movies." "Someone who had the respect, humility, and strength it takes to be a man."


Additionally, actor Lorenzo Lamas is sending his "prayers" to Norris' family after training at his martial arts gym. Lamas posts on social media, "Watch out, evil world; there is an angel of consequence at the gates."

In the 2015 documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, the broad significance of Chuck Norris is examined. It examined how the action star affected Romania during the Cold War. 

The movie is about Irina Nestor, who translated more than 3,000 Western films that were illegally brought into Romania.


Romanians were given "something to dream about" by Chuck Norris movies, according to Nestor. "Like an international bodyguard, the idea was that he would come and save us," she explains.

Actor Sylvester Stallone says he "had a great time working with Chuck" in an Instagram tribute. He calls him a “great man,” and my condolences to his wonderful family, and says, "He was All-American in every way."

"Deepest condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris," says Jean-Claude Van Damme, an actor and martial arts celebrity from Belgium. 

The two co-starred with Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, and Sylvester Stallone in the 2012 action movie The Expendables 2. "I always respected the man he was, and we knew each other from the beginning," he writes on Instagram. His family is in my thoughts and prayers. He will always be remembered.

One Chuck Norris film frightened even Stephen King, an American author of classic horror novels, including IT, Carrie, and The Shining.I really thought he was fantastic. "My boys and I were terrified of silent rage," King posts on social media.


In the 1982 movie Silent Rage, Norris played a sheriff attempting to put an end to the murderous rampage of a self-healing, silent, insane killer. 

A handful of King's favorite Chuck Norris jokes are also shared. "My fave Chuck Norris joke: Chuck doesn't flush the toilet, he scares the s*** out of it," he wrote. Second favorite: King recalls in another post that Chuck Norris drove his mother home from the hospital when he was born.