American actor Chuck Norris has died. TMZ reported that he was hospitalised shortly before his death.
His family said it wished to keep the matter private. ‘He was a warrior, an actor and a symbol of strength to the world. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother and the heart of our family,’ the statement added.
Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, and grew up in humble circumstances. After graduating from high school in 1958, he joined the US Air Force. While stationed in Korea, he began training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.
He went on to achieve considerable success in competitions before becoming a film and television star. Norris was a six-time world karate champion in the middleweight division and founded his own style of karate, known as Chun Kuk Do, which incorporates Korean elements.
He also founded the United Martial Arts Federation. Black Belt magazine inducted him into its Hall of Fame with a 10th-degree black belt, the highest possible award.
He later moved into acting, making his debut in a minor role in Demolition Squad (1968). Four years later, he rose to prominence in Way of the Dragon alongside Bruce Lee and went on to star in a number of action films, including Delta Force and Missing in Action. One of the highlights of his career was the role of Cordell Walker in the series Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).
In 1989, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2010 he was made an honorary Texas Ranger.