Chuck Norris, the martial artist and Hollywood action star, has died aged 86, his family has confirmed.
He died on Thursday morning in Hawaii, surrounded by relatives. In a statement, the family said he passed away peacefully but did not disclose the cause of death.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris,” the statement read. “He lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.”
The death came as a shock. Reports say he had been active just a day earlier, working out and in good spirits.
Norris rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of action films, including The Delta Force and Missing in Action. He later became a household name on television as Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger.
He had a long background in martial arts and held black belts in multiple disciplines. In 1989, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his contribution to film and television.
In 2010, he was made an honorary member of the Texas Rangers, reflecting his cultural impact through his television role.
Norris also shared a close bond with Bruce Lee. The two trained together in the 1960s and appeared in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon.
Though he stepped back from major acting roles in later years, he made occasional appearances, including in The Expendables 2.
In recent years, he faced personal losses, including the deaths of his mother in 2024 and his first wife, Dianne Holechek, in December.
Earlier this month, on his 86th birthday, Norris shared a video online showing him training, with the message: “I don’t age… I level up.”
He leaves behind a legacy as one of the most recognisable action stars of his era.
