The late, great Chuck Norris was in on all of the jokes.
The famous martial artist and actor, has passed away at the age of 86. Earlier this week, it was reported that he was rushed to a hospital in Hawaii, and it seemed to be for something sudden. Now, it has been confirmed that Norris passed away on the morning of Thursday, March 19.
Norris was made famous by his action and martial arts-focused roles in the 1970s and 1980s. He starred opposite Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon, and his most recent role was in a 2024 movie titled Agent Recon. Many fans came to love the actor when he starred as Texas Ranger Cordell Walker in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 to 2001.
The family of Chuck Norris shared the news of his passing through social media, saying:
“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.”
The world has lost another legend… that’s for sure.
Now, family, friends and fans are mourning the loss of the man whose popularity spanned generations. Some knew him from martial arts, while others were introduced to him through Walker, Texas Ranger. There’s a whole part of the population that just came to know him through memes, or his short-but-sweet cameo in the comedic movie Dodgeball.
Tom Jones, his sparring partner and part-time bodyguard, had nothing but great things to say about his friend when he spoke with TMZ earlier today. One very touching story that Jones shared was about how much time he gave to others. There was one time that Norris apparently had a group of kids come up to him, and when they did, he got down on a knee, talked to them and provided around 20 minutes of mentorship.
As they walked away, Jones says Chuck Norris looked up to him and said this:
“The more people you can figure out how to help in your lifetime, the more blessed and successful you will be.”
What a legacy to leave behind.
Though another way that Chuck Norris will undoubtedly live on through are the memes. There’s been endless Chuck Norris jokes and memes that have entered into the pop culture sphere throughout the years. Most of them were just about how tough and strong Norris was, and one I remember from my childhood is “Chuck Norris once won an arm wrestling contest with both arms tied behind his back.”
The memes are truly endless (I’d advise you to look some up if you need a laugh), and Tom Jones says that Chuck Norris loved every single one of them:
“He loved them… he loved them. I think part of him loving them was just his personality. He had a great sense of humor. The first time we sparred, I touched gloves with him and then I laid a round kick on his face. He just looked at me and said, ‘So that’s how it’s gonna be.’ I said, ‘Well, you are Chuck Norris.’ He said, ‘No no no,’ touched gloves with me again, he did a spinning back kick, knocked the wind out of me and we were great friends ever since.”
RIP Chuck Norris.
