Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who became an action movie staple and the face of the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died. He was 86.

What happened

Norris was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday. His family released a statement the next day saying he died that morning. They asked for privacy about the circumstances and said he was surrounded by family and was at peace.

In the family statement they called him, in part, a martial artist and actor to the world, and at home a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a brother, and the heart of their family. They said he lived with faith and purpose and inspired millions through his work, discipline, and kindness.

Why he mattered in film and TV

Norris had real martial arts credentials, which gave him credibility other action stars often lacked. He appeared opposite Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon. His formal ranks included a black belt in judo, third degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fifth degree black belt in karate, eighth degree black belt in taekwondo, ninth degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and a 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do.

He was a busy action lead in the late 1970s and 1980s with films such as Good Guys Wear Black, The Octagon, Lone Wolf McQuade, An Eye for an Eye, Code of Silence, Missing in Action, The Delta Force, and Firewalker. He later returned to the big screen in The Expendables 2 in 2012 after several years away.

As his film work slowed, Norris moved to television. He starred as Cordell Walker in the CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 to 2001. He also returned to the character for TV movies, and his last starring film role was in 2005 in the straight to DVD movie The Cutter.

Public image and later years

In popular culture, Norris became the subject of widely shared jokes and memes that exaggerated his toughness with absurd claims. He also appeared in workout infomercials and spoke publicly as a political conservative. He wrote books with Christian and patriotic themes.

Early life and martial arts beginnings

Carlos Ray Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. His father served in World War II. In 1958 he joined the Air Force as an air policeman. While stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea he got the nickname Chuck and began training in Tang Soo Do. That training led to success in other martial arts and to the development of his hybrid style, Chun Kuk Do.

After his 1962 discharge he worked for the aerospace company Northrop and opened a chain of karate schools. His schools taught some well known clients, including actors and entertainers.

Norris made an uncredited film debut in 1969. He met Bruce Lee at a martial arts demonstration and later played Lee's rival in The Way of the Dragon. Encouraged by friends to take acting classes, he moved further into film beginning in the late 1970s.

Military connection and Missing in Action films

In 1984 Norris starred in Missing in Action, the first of a series of films about the rescue of American prisoners of war allegedly still held after the Vietnam War. He dedicated those films to his younger brother Wieland, who was killed while serving in Vietnam. Critics compared the films to the Rambo series, arguing they shared similar themes.

Family and survivors

Norris was married twice. He was married to Dianne Holechek from 1958 until their divorce in 1988. He married Gena O'Kelley in 1998. He is survived by his wife, two sons named Eric and Mike, three daughters named Dakota, Danilee, and Dina, and several grandchildren.

Legacy

He leaves behind a long list of action films, a popular television series, and a visible role in martial arts culture. Whether people remember him for the roles, the belts, or the jokes, Chuck Norris had an impact on popular culture that lasted decades.