Chuck Norris, martial arts icon who starred as Walker, Texas Ranger, dies aged 86

Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who starred in Walker, Texas Ranger and a string of action movies, has died. He was 86.

The news was announced Friday by Norris’s family on Instagram.

“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the post’s caption read.

“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,” it continued.

“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.”

The news comes a day after it was reported Norris had been hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency in Hawaii, where he has owned a $7 million home on Kauai’s North Shore since 2015.

Last week, Norris celebrated his 86th birthday, marking the occasion with a social media post that included a video of himself sparring with a boxing trainer.

At the time, he wrote: “I don’t age. I level up. I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young.”

He continued: “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. God Bless, Chuck Norris.”

The Oklahoma-born star first came to prominence when he fought Bruce Lee in 1972’s The Way of the Dragon. His film credits also include 1984’s Missing In Action and 1986’s The Delta Force.

In the mid-2000s, “Chuck Norris facts” became a popular meme format. These outlandish claims circulated online typically made reference to Norris’s strength and machismo, such as: “Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door” or “Chuck Norris beat the sun in a staring contest.”

Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris in the small town of Ryan, Oklahoma on March 10, 1940. He joined the United States Air Force in 1958 and was subsequently sent to Osan Air Base in South Korea. It was while in South Korea that Norris was given the nickname “Chuck”, and where he began learning the martial art Tang Soo Do.

After being discharged from the Air Force in 1962, Norris opened a martial arts studio in Torrance, California and began competing in martial arts competitions. In 1967, he won S. Henry Cho’s All-American Karate Championship at the Madison Square Garden.

At the same tournament the following year, Norris met Bruce Lee, who was giving a demonstration. Lee was working as an action choreographer on the Dean Martin spy comedy The Wrecking Crew, and helped Norris land his first screen role with a small part in the film.

After Lee became an action star in his own right, he gave Norris his breakout role playing his nemesis in 1972’s The Way of the Dragon.

In 1995, Norris told Conan O’Brien about the pair’s famous fight scene and said: “I still consider it a classic. Bruce was really ahead of his time. We worked out for three years when I held the world title, then he went to Hong Kong to pursue his movie career, did a couple of movies, very successful, so he called me up and said: ‘I want to do a movie with a fight scene everyone will remember… I said: ‘Do I have to lose?’ and he said: ‘Yeah, you have to lose!’”

Around the same time, Norris was giving karate lessons to Hollywood star Steve McQueen, who encouraged him to keep acting. Norris played his first lead role in the 1977 trucker action movie Breaker! Breaker!, and by the mid-1980s he had become a bankable action star with a string of box office hits including 1984’s Missing In Action and 1986’s The Delta Force.

From 1993 to 2001, Norris played the lead role of Vietnam veteran Sergeant Cordell Walker in the CBS action series Walker, Texas Ranger. The hit series made full use of Norris’s martial arts expertise, and the character’s habit of solving problems with a high kick helped fuel the later “Chuck Norris facts” internet phenomenon.

He continued to make films into later life, appearing opposite Sylvester Stallone and various other action stars in 2012’s The Expendables 2.

After Norris’s death, Stallone wrote on social media: “I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family.”

Norris was an outspoken supporter of Republican political causes, and endorsed various candidates over the years. In the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, he was a prominent supporter of Mike Huckabee. In the 2012 presidential election, Norris initially backed Ron Paul and later endorsed Newt Gingrich as the Republican presidential candidate.

He also visited Israel on many different occasions, and publicly voiced his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 2013 and 2015 elections.

His first wife, Dianne Holechek, died in December 2025 at the age of 84. Holechek and Norris met at North High School in Torrance, and married in 1958 when they were 17 and 18, respectively.

They separated in 1988, after 30 years of marriage, finalizing their divorce in 1989. They had two children together, Mike (born 1962) and former NASCAR racing driver Eric (born 1965).

Norris subsequently married model Gena O’Kelley, 62, in 1998. They shared twins, Dakota and Danilee, 24.