Action star Chuck Norris passed away at 86, his family announced on Friday. Famous for Walker, Texas Ranger and 1980s films like Missing in Action, the martial arts champion became an iconic tough guy who later inspired viral internet parodies .
His family remembered him as a devoted husband and the heart of their family, stating, “While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived” . They described his passing on Thursday morning as sudden, following a medical emergency in Hawaii .
Just over a week before his death, Norris celebrated his birthday with a video captioned, “I don’t age. I level up” . Tributes poured in from figures like Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who called him a legend, and Sylvester Stallone, who hailed him as a “great man” . His legacy includes the viral “Chuck Norris Facts” meme, which humorously exaggerated his invincibility for a new generation .
