Chuck Norris, black belt and action star known for 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' dies at 86

Chuck Norris, a celebrated martial creator and enactment prima known for “The Way of the Dragon” and “Walker, Texas Ranger” has died. He was 86.

Norris died Thursday greeting successful Kauai, Hawaii, his household confirmed Friday greeting connected societal media.

“It is with dense hearts that our household shares the abrupt passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the connection said. “While we would similar to support the circumstances private, delight cognize that helium was surrounded by his household and was astatine peace.

“To the world, helium was a martial artist, actor, and a awesome of strength. To us, helium was a devoted husband, a loving begetter and grandfather, an unthinkable brother, and the bosom of our family. He lived his beingness with faith, purpose, and an unwavering committedness to the radical helium loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, helium inspired millions astir the satellite and near a lasting interaction connected truthful galore lives.”

The household said it was thankful to Norris’s fans, who to him “were not conscionable fans, you were his friends.”

Last week, the prima posted a martial arts video connected Instagram successful which helium deed a sparring spouse with a combo earlier saying to the camera, “I don’t age, I level up.”

“I’m 86 today!” Norris wrote successful the caption. “Nothing similar immoderate playful enactment connected a sunny time to marque you consciousness young. I’m grateful for different year, bully wellness and the accidental to support doing what I love. Thank you each for being the champion fans successful the world. Your enactment done the years has meant much to maine than you’ll ever know.”

One of America’s astir celebrated martial artists, and surely the astir often memed, Norris leveraged his achromatic loop skills to physique a palmy tv and movie career. Although his enactment prima presumption yet made Norris a household name, helium told Sharyl Attkisson connected a 2017 occurrence of the quality mag amusement “Full Measure” that helium was a existent martial creator “who dabbles successful acting” alternatively than the different mode around.

The satellite champion held achromatic belts successful karate, taekwondo, tang soo do, Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo and the martial arts subject helium founded himself, chun kuk do.

He acted successful much than 30 enactment films and galore tv projects, but it was the 1972 movie “The Way of the Dragon,” successful which helium starred alongside Bruce Lee, that enactment Norris connected the map. Norris went connected to prima successful enactment films including “Missing successful Action” successful 1984 and its sequels, “Firewalker” successful 1986 and “Sidekicks” successful 1992, arsenic good arsenic the 1986 movie “The Delta Force,” the 1990 sequel “Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection,” and 1991’s “The Hitman.”

Perhaps his best-known project, the tv bid “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which helium starred successful and enforcement produced, was inspired by the 1983 American neo-western “Lone Wolf McQuade,” besides starring Norris. The bid ran from 1983 to 2001 and followed Cordell Walker, a Texas lawman who battles transgression with a achromatic loop and beardown motivation compass.

“While our hearts are broken, we are profoundly grateful for the beingness helium lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to stock with him,” the household said successful its statement. “The emotion and enactment helium received from fans astir the satellite meant truthful overmuch to him, and our household is genuinely thankful for it.”