Chuck Norris, action film star and martial arts champion, dies at 86

Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action film star who became a Hollywood fixture in the 1980s and 1990s, died Thursday in Hawaii at age 86. His family announced the death through his official Instagram account.

"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the family wrote. "While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace."

Norris was hospitalized earlier Thursday after experiencing a medical emergency on the island of Kauai. The cause of death was not disclosed. He had celebrated his 86th birthday on March 10 with a video posted to Instagram in which he demonstrated fighting skills while training. "I don't age," he said in the post. "I level up."

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma in 1940, Norris joined the U.S. Air Force as a teenager. While stationed in South Korea, he began training in martial arts and went on to win a black belt. He became a six-time world karate champion, winning karate championships in the late 1960s.

His friendship with fellow martial artist Bruce Lee led to his appearance in Lee's 1972 film "The Way of the Dragon," in which the two fought in a scene filmed at Rome's Colosseum. The sequence became one of the most iconic moments in martial arts cinema.

Norris transitioned to acting and became known for a string of low-budget but financially successful action films. His filmography included "Invasion USA," "The Delta Force," and "Missing in Action." He achieved broader recognition through the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger," which ran from 1993 to 2001, in which he played Cordell Walker.

The actor's image became the subject of internet memes in the 2000s. The phenomenon began in 2004 on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," when host Conan O'Brien presented a series of images featuring Norris in his characteristic tough-guy pose. These images, known as "Chuck Norris Facts," became among the earliest memes on the internet.

According to sources, Jean-Claude Van Damme worked as a security guard at a bar owned by Norris early in his career, gaining experience and industry connections before becoming famous.

In his final years, Norris had largely stepped back from acting. His family described him as "a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family." They noted that "he lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved."