Tributes are being paid to Chuck Norris, the legendary American actor known for his action, martial arts, and crime thriller roles, following his death at the age of 86.
His family announced his death on his Instagram account on March 20.
Norris died on March 19 on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, reportedly falling ill on Thursday and undergoing a brief hospitalisation for an undisclosed condition.
The iconic action hero celebrated his 86th birthday just a week prior, on March 10, by sharing a video of himself boxing on Instagram.
In the post, he stated: “I don’t age. I level up. I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young. I’m grateful for another year, good health and the chance to keep doing what I love.
“Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know.”
Following his passing, heartfelt tributes from family, friends, and industry colleagues have flooded social media.
His son, Dakota Norris, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying, “Dad, it’s hard to find the right words for this, but I’ll do my best. You’ve been the man I looked up to my whole life.
“Your generosity, your kindness, your courage, your integrity, your strength, your discipline, and your faith in the Lord were just a handful of things I always admired about you.
“You lived your life with purpose and with love for all people. You were the greatest father God could have ever given me and the finest man I’ve ever known. No matter what I was going through, you were always there. You made sure I knew how much you loved me.
“Honest to God, I don’t think there was a single day that went by where you didn’t say it. I’m so proud to be your son. The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughs we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“Thank you for everything you gave to our family and for the example you set every day. I hope I can live a life that honours you and makes you proud. I love you, Dad. I’ll miss you forever.”
Fellow actor Sylvester Stallone also paid tribute to Norris, stating, “I had a great time working with Chuck. He was all-American in every way. Great man, and my condolences to his wonderful family.”
Stallone and Norris shared the screen in the 2012 action film The Expendables 2, where Norris played the character Booker alongside other action icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
Born in Oklahoma in 1940, Norris served in the United States Air Force before rising to fame as a martial arts star.
His big break came after he fought the late martial arts film star Bruce Lee in the 1972 classic Way Of The Dragon.
Norris is perhaps best known for his role as Ranger Cordell Walker in the popular 1993 television series Walker, Texas Ranger.
