experience.
Famed martial arts black belt and former Air Force Airman first
class Norris was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday, where he was
treated for an unknown medical emergency. TMZ
stated that Norris was still conscious at the time and that he was
reportedly in “good spirits.” A day earlier, Norris was working out
on the island of Kaua’i in Hawaii, where a friend of his said he
was joking around and having a good time. He had even posted a
video on Instagram days
before, showing the 86-year-old hitting pads on his birthday.
In his final
video, Norris riffed, “I don’t age. I level up.” He continued,
writing, “I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny
day to make you feel young. I’m grateful for another year, good
health and the chance to keep doing what I love. Thank you for all
being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years
has meant more to me than you’ll ever know. God bless, Chuck
Norris.”
As first reported by TMZ on
Friday, Norris died suddenly on Thursday for currently undisclosed
reasons. The Oklahoman born Carlos Ray Norris earned a variety of
black belts in multiple disciplines over the years, even creating
his own style called American tang soo do, combining the teachings
of Korean tang soo do with karate and judo. Among his many
distinctions include an 8th degree black belt in taekwondo, a 9th
degree black belt in tang soo do, a 5th degree black belt in at
least one discipline of karate and a black belt in judo. He also
trained under the Machado brothers, earning his third-degree black
belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep. He waits.
The actor, fighter, author and beyond founded a second style called
the “Chuck Norris System,” or Chun Kuk Do, which evolved out of his
previous combat training in the military and with traditional
martial arts. His contributions to martial arts worldwide led to
his induction in the inaugural class of the Martial Arts History
Museum’s Hall of Fame in 1990. While record keeping in these areas
was notoriously spotty, the karateka was suggested to have
celebrated a pro record of 183-10-2 across all matches under
kickboxing, karate or other related rulesets. He also celebrated
six world titles, although the status of those organizations is
unknown.
As his legend grew, Norris helped create a kickboxing league called
World Combat League, where the fighters fought in a sloped pit
wearing gi pants, gloves and shin protectors. It was a
striking-only discipline with no takedowns or throwing permitting,
and very limited clinching or grappling allowed. Two teams competed
against one another, with their teams sending out one
representative against another’s. While it only operated for two
years, a number of future elite athletes competed under its banner,
including Stephen
Thompson, Uriah Hall,
Pat
Barry and Raymond
Daniels.
Freddy Krueger has nightmares about Chuck Norris
The past “Fighter of the Year” for the vaunted Black Belt magazine
used his training to put himself on the radar of Hollywood, where
he made his film debut in 1968 as an extra in the Dean Martin spy
comedy “The Wrecking Crew.” Four years later, he established
himself as a tour de force by playing the character Colt in Bruce
Lee’s “The Way of the Dragon.” He and Lee duked it out in the
legendary final battle, where, uncharacteristic for Norris, he
ended up losing when Lee’s character broke Norris’ neck.
“The Way of the Dragon” opened many doors for Norris as an action
movie persona, as he began to claim the marquee spot in roles of
films like “Breaker! Breaker!” and “A Force of One.” His character
archetypes served as the unbreakable protagonist that could thwart
the plans of warlords and other ne’er-do-wells while racking up
massive body counts. After his chief performance in “Lone Wolf
McQuade,” film studios started building franchises around Norris,
placing him in film series like “Missing in Action” and “The Delta
Force.”
In the 1980s, Norris served as an unstoppable force in the same
vein of fellow martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme and other
action greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
His film career began to transition to television in the 1990s, as
his legend grew to oft-times comedic levels that spurred a myriad
of “Chuck Norris jokes” like “Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo
is always hiding” and “Chuck Norris can divide by zero.” He notably
played himself in the comedy martial arts picture “Sidekicks” where
he trained an ill young boy to achieve great heights a la “The
Karate Kid” while squaring off against comedian-turned-bodybuilder
Joe Piscopo. He kept himself in the spotlight thanks to over 200
episodes of the renowned action crime series “Walker, Texas
Ranger,” where he served as an upstanding law enforcement officer
that allowed him to fully showcase his martial arts prowess.
Film appearances largely dried up for Norris after a few
direct-to-video features released, with the martial arts aficionado
relegating himself to notable, beloved cameos in films like
“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and “The Expendables 2.” In the
latter, the self-aware Norris actually riffed on one of his own
jokes. His character stated that he was bitten by a cobra, and
after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died.
Chuck Norris once won an arm-wrestling contest with both arms
tied behind his back
Following his death, an outpouring of memorials and support came
from friends and fellow actors.
“Chuck Norris is the champ,” Dolph Lundgren penned about his
fallen friend. “Ever since I was a young martial artist and later
getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model.
Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a
man. We will miss you, my friend.”
“I had a great time working with Chuck,” wrote Stallone. “He
was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his
wonderful family.”
Van Damme weighed in as well, writing, “Deepest
condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris. We knew each
other from my early days, and I always respected the man he was. My
heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be
forgotten.”
“Just heard that the Legend – The Man – Mr. Chuck Norris has passed
away,” Piscopo stated about his
former co-star. “I was honored to work with Chuck. It was a life
changing and treasured experience that I will hold dearly in my
heart forever. Sending love, respect and heartfelt condolences to
the Norris Family. Rest In Peace, Good Sir.”
“I had the honor of meeting Chuck back in 2006 at the World Combat
League something he built from the ground up,” former WCL fighter
Hall weighed
in as well. “One of the most charismatic, genuine human beings
I’ve ever come across. Growing up, watching ‘Walker, Texas
Ranger’…that wasn’t just a show to me. That was inspiration. That
was a standard. A man who stood for something discipline, respect,
doing what’s right even when it’s hard. Chuck Norris embodied what
it meant to be a man in an era that didn’t cut corners. And whether
he knew it or not, he inspired so many of us to carry ourselves a
certain way. We lost one of the last OGs. A true legend. God bless
you. Rest easy. Because men like you…never really die.”
Chuck Norris can unscramble an egg
Norris’ family provided a statement on his
social media page announcing his death and celebrating his life,
while thanking those around the world that loved him and his
work.
Their statement reads in its entirety:
“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.
“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. 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 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.
“Thank you for loving him with us.
“With love,
“The Norris Family”