RIP Chuck Norris, Champion Martial Artist & Actor

Chuck Norris, the champion martial artist and action movie icon has died. He was 86.

His family confirmed the death on Thursday, March 19, on Friday, March 20. No cause was cited.

“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,” the statement read.

“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.”

“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,” the statement continued.

“Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.”

“While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him,” the family said. “The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends.”

“We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way. As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time.”

Norris, a martial arts teacher and karate champion, was cast by Bruce Lee as the villain Colt in Lee’s 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon.”

Their fight scene, set in Rome’s Colosseum, is one of the most famous martial arts screen fights and the rare screen battle that Norris lost (broken neck).

Norris appeared as tough Texas Ranger Jim “J.J.” McQuade in 1983’s “Lone Wolf McQuade,” a character precursor to his famed “Walker, Texas Ranger” role.

In the 1984 box office smash “Missing in Action,” Norris portrayed one-man-army Colonel Braddock, who returns to Vietnam to free POWs.

The next year, Norris defended the United States from a Soviet/Cuban-led terrorist invasion as former CIA Agent Matt Hunter in 1985’s “Invasion U.S.A.”

The same year, he starred as a Chicago police sergeant battling his way out of a gang war in “Code of Silence.”

Norris teamed with Lee Marvin in 1986’s “The Delta Force,” memorably wreaking solo havoc with a rocket-launching dirt bike in one of the action film’s most over-the-top action sequences.

By the 1990s, Norris transitioned from big-screen muscle to television icon, anchoring CBS’ “Walker, Texas Ranger,” where his blend of martial arts, moral clarity and frontier justice made him a household name across nine seasons (1993-2001) and introduced him to a new generation of fans.

As a senior citizen, Norris experienced an unlikely digital resurgence in the 2000s.

A torrent of internet humor known as “Chuck Norris Facts” transformed the star into a mythical, near-invincible figure. The deadpan one-liners exaggerating his strength, speed and toughness to absurd levels, turned Norris into one of the internet’s first global memes.