Action star Chuck Norris has died at 86 after a medical emergency in Kauai, Hawaii, his family confirmed, saying he was “surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
Born Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma, he rose from poverty to become a martial arts champion, earning multiple black belts and winning six world karate titles before transitioning into film at the encouragement of Steve McQueen.
His breakthrough came opposite Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon, followed by a string of 1980s action hits and his long-running role in Walker, Texas Ranger.
In later years, Norris became a pop culture phenomenon through viral “Chuck Norris Facts,” which humorously exaggerated his toughness, cementing his status as “a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength,” while his family remembered him as “the heart of our family.”
