Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 86.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.
“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,” the statement said.
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Norris reportedly fell ill on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Norris turned 86 last week, marking the event with a video of him boxing on social media and saying, “I don’t age. I level up.”
The martial arts expert turned actor has starred in a slew of action films since his acting debut with a cameo in a 1968 Dean Martin film “The Wrecking Crew.”
Four years later, his epic fight with the kung-fu superstar Bruce Lee in “The Way of The Dragon” helped turn Norris into an icon on big and small screen alike.
“Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young,” Norris said in his birthday message last week.
He was best known for his nine-season run as Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker, a steely-eyed former Marine who dispensed Lone Star justice with roundhouse kicks and a decidedly old-school moral code. The series remains a staple of syndicated television.
Norris rose to fame as a martial arts champion and trainer before going on to appear in a string of movies, most notably the Bruce Lee classic “The Way of the Dragon” as well as the 1980s thrillers “Lone Wolf McQuade,” “Missing in Action,” “Code of Silence” and “The Delta Force.”
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