Chuck Norris, action star of movies and TV, dies at 86

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Chuck Norris, the martial arts expert and actor known for his roles in action movies and the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger", has died at the age of 86. Norris, who had a durable acting career that delighted millions of fans, died on Thursday after being hospitalized earlier that day on Kauai due to a medical emergency.

Why it matters

Norris was a pioneering action star who helped popularize martial arts in Hollywood and embodied the tough, patriotic hero archetype that resonated with many viewers. His passing marks the end of an era for a certain breed of action hero that was prominent in the late 20th century.

The details

Norris, who held a black belt in martial arts, transitioned his skills into a prolific acting career, starring in numerous action films throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s such as "Good Guys Wear Black", "Invasion U.S.A.", and the "Delta Force" series. He was perhaps best known for his starring role in the long-running CBS series "Walker, Texas Ranger" from 1993 to 2001, where he played a warrior who relied on his martial arts abilities to fight crime.

• Norris was born on March 10, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma.
• He enlisted in the Air Force and became a military police officer in 1958.
• Norris married his first wife Dianne Holechek in 1958, they divorced in 1989.
• Norris married his second wife Gena O'Kelley in 1998.
• Norris died on March 21, 2026 in Kauai after being hospitalized earlier that day.