- By Swati Singh
- Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion-turned-action star best known for Walker, Texas Ranger, has passed away at the age of 86. He had been hospitalised in Hawaii on Thursday and his family confirmed that he died the following morning. Norris' family released a statement via his official Instagram handle.
The statement read, "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."
Chuck Norris (1940–2026) was a legendary martial artist and action star, holding black belts in multiple disciplines including karate, taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he became a champion fighter and later founded his own martial art, Chun Kuk Do, before moving to Hollywood where he trained celebrities.
He began his film journey with a small role in The Wrecking Crew and gained attention after starring alongside Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon. With encouragement from Steve McQueen, he took on lead roles, rising to fame with hits like Good Guys Wear Black and becoming a major action star. Throughout the 1980s, Norris delivered a string of successful action films including Missing in Action, The Delta Force and Code of Silence, cementing his global stardom. He later became a household name on television with Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001) and continued acting until his appearance in The Expendables 2.
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Beyond acting, Norris was also a bestselling author, columnist, and popular face in commercials like Total Gym. In 2005, he gained renewed fame through the viral 'Chuck Norris facts' meme, which humorously exaggerated his strength and persona, further cementing his status as a pop culture icon.