Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and actor known for roles in Walker, Texas Ranger and more than 20 films, has died at age 86, his family said. The family posted on social media that his death was a “sudden passing,” and asked to keep the circumstances private, adding that “he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.” Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, he rose from a childhood of poverty to become a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion, founded the Chun Kuk Do system and the United Fighting Arts Federation, and was credited by Black Belt magazine with a 10th degree black belt.
Norris served in the U.S. Air Force, began martial arts training during a deployment to Korea, and later opened a chain of martial arts studios whose students included Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley and Steve McQueen. He made his film debut in 1968, appeared opposite Bruce Lee in Return of the Dragon in 1972, and starred in films such as Missing in Action, The Delta
Force and Sidekicks before taking the lead in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger in 1993. Outside acting he embraced the viral “Chuck Norris Facts” phenomenon, published The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book and other books, supported political causes and candidates, and had five surviving children.
