By Lillie Liska
Chuck Norris, iconic martial arts champion beloved for his roles in WALKER, TEXAS RANGER and MISSING IN ACTION, has died. He was 86.
The Hollywood Reporter said that Norris was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday. His family announced his death Friday morning.
“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,” they wrote on Instagram.
“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength,” they continued. “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,” the statement said.
Norris’ family thanked fans for their prayers after learning he was hospitalized yesterday and asked for privacy as they grieve.
Related: Chuck Norris Believes America Needs God Now More Than Ever
Born March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, as Carlos Ray Norris, he joined the Air Force at after high school and was introduced to martial arts during a deployment to Korea. During this time, Norris was drawn to the New Age practices.
AP reported that before his Hollywood career, Norris enjoyed great success in martial arts as a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He founded Chun Kuk Do, a Korean-based American style of karate, and the United Fighting Arts Federation.
His film debut came in 1968 as an uncredited body guard in THE WRECKING CREW. He went on to star in over 20 action movies. His best-known role came in 1993 in the show WALKER, TEXAS RANGER, for which he won a Movieguide® Grace Prize® for in 1999.
Movieguide® Founder Ted Baehr’s father, Bob “Tex” Allen, known as the first Texas Ranger, presented the Award to Norris as the last Texas Ranger, at the time.
Norris came to Christ through the connections he made through Movieguide® after a sermon by Dr. Baehr. Baehr helped lead Norris to discipleship and connected Norris with Joseph Farah of WND to write articles. You can read some of those articles here.
Norris used his platform to speak vocally about the importance of faith and family, especially in entertainment.
“You have to go with your faith,” he told Movieguide® at the 17th Annual Movieguide® Awards about putting faith first in Hollywood. “You have to go with your beliefs and your convictions. I’ve been a conservative all this time, but I respect other people’s point of view. Most of my boss’s points of view were different, but we respected each other. We agreed to disagree.”
Norris admitted he slid away from his faith over the years, but the earnest prayers of his mother ultimately brought him back.
“On Easter Sunday 2009, I experienced another highlight in my spiritual life. I recommitted my life to Christ yet again, but this time with my household. Gena, our eight-year-old twins at the time, and I all recommitted our lives to Christ and were baptized together by our chaplain. What an absolute joy it was to watch my loved ones go into those sacred waters on our Texas ranch and to hear them affirm their belief and recommitment to follow Jesus,” Norris said.
He admitted that he turned down roles because he “felt wouldn’t be in the best interest of what I’m trying to portray on the screen. I’ve always tried to portray good versus evil. Thank God it worked for me.”
Norris is survived by his wife Gena, whom he married in 1998, and his children, Mike, Dina, Eric, Danilee and Dakota. Please keep your family and friends in your prayers as the mourn his death.
Read Next: Chuck Norris Calls Relationship with God Key to Happiness
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