Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion and 1980s action-film icon, has died at the age of 83, his family announced on Instagram on Friday.
“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the statement read.
Norris, a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion, was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday, according to Variety.
He starred in over two dozen films, including Code of Silence, Missing in Action, and The Delta Force, often portraying soldiers, lawmen, and All-American heroes.
His memorable fight with Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon (1973) cemented his status as a martial arts icon.
He later appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis in The Expendables 2 (2012).
Time magazine once described Norris as “the ultimate tough guy,” a reputation further amplified by his long-running TV role as Sergeant Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001).
In 2005, Norris became an internet phenomenon with “Chuck Norris Facts,” humorous online exaggerations of his strength and toughness, spawning books and global memes.
Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, he grew up in a troubled household. A shy and introverted child, he discovered martial arts while serving in the U.S. Air Force in South Korea.
He later taught martial arts in California, winning championships and launching a successful acting career with encouragement from Steve McQueen.
Beyond film, Norris founded Chun Kuk Do, a martial arts discipline, and the nonprofit Kickstart Kids, promoting martial arts and self-esteem among youth.
A patriot and devout Christian, he supported U.S. troops, the NRA, and authored multiple books on self-improvement, fitness, and martial arts.
Norris was married twice and had five children. He defended his films against critics, insisting that well-crafted action stories can be as meaningful as any drama.
He leaves behind a legacy as one of cinema’s most enduring action stars, a martial arts pioneer, and an unlikely cultural icon.
