Legendary martial artist and Hollywood action star Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed in a statement shared on social media.
According to the statement posted on Norris’ Instagram page, the actor passed away on Thursday following a medical emergency after being taken to hospital in Hawaii.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
They described the late actor as a symbol of strength to the world and a devoted family man.
“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,” the statement added.
Born Carlos Ray Norris in 1940, the actor rose from competitive martial arts to global fame through action films and television. He became widely known for his roles in movies such as The Delta Force and for starring in the hit television series Walker, Texas Ranger, which aired from 1993 to 2001.
