Chuck Norris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chuck Norris
Norris in 1976
Born	Carlos Ray Norris (1940-03-10)March 10, 1940 Ryan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	March 19, 2026(2026-03-19) (aged 86) Kauai, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation	Martial artist actor screenwriter
Years active	1968–2026
Spouse(s)	Dianne Holechek ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1989)​ Gena O'Kelley ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	5; including Mike and Eric
Relatives	Aaron Norris (brother)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1958–1962
Rank	Airman first class
Signature

Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940 – died March 19, 2026) was a famous American martial artist and actor. He was a highly skilled black belt in several martial arts, including Karate, Taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris became a champion in martial arts. He even created his own fighting style called Chun Kuk Do.

Chuck Norris later became a well-known actor, starring in many action films. He was especially famous for his role in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger. In the 2000s, he also became a huge internet sensation with "Chuck Norris facts," which were funny, exaggerated stories about his strength. He was also a successful author and a dedicated supporter of various charities.

Early Life and Military Service

Carlos Ray Norris was born on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma. His mother was Wilma Lee, and his father was Ray Dee Norris. Chuck was named after his father's minister. He was the oldest of three brothers. His younger brother, Wieland, sadly passed away in the Vietnam War in 1970.

Chuck described his childhood as challenging. He was shy and not very athletic in school. When he was 16, his parents divorced. He then moved with his mother and brothers to Prairie Village, Kansas, and later to Torrance, California.

In 1958, Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman. He was stationed in South Korea, where he earned the nickname "Chuck." It was there that he began his training in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art. He returned to the United States and continued his service before being discharged in 1962.

Becoming a Martial Arts Champion

After his military service, Chuck Norris pursued his passion for martial arts. He opened a chain of karate schools in California. Many celebrities, including Steve McQueen and Priscilla Presley, became his students.

Norris started competing in martial arts tournaments. After some early losses, he trained hard and became very successful. He won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968 and held it for six years. In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for having the most tournament wins that year. He also received the "Fighter of the Year" award from Black Belt magazine. During this time, he met and befriended another martial arts legend, Bruce Lee.

Chuck Norris: The Action Film Star

Chuck Norris made his acting debut in a small role in the film The Wrecking Crew in 1969. His friend Bruce Lee later invited him to play a villain in the martial arts movie The Way of the Dragon (1972). This film helped launch Norris's acting career.

His student, Steve McQueen, encouraged him to take acting seriously. Norris then starred in action films like Breaker! Breaker! (1977) and Good Guys Wear Black (1978), which became very popular. He quickly became a leading action star.

Key Action Movies

Throughout the 1980s, Norris starred in many successful action films. Some of his notable movies included A Force of One (1979), The Octagon (1980), and Lone Wolf McQuade (1983). Lone Wolf McQuade was especially well-received and inspired his future TV show.

He also made several films with Cannon Films, such as Missing in Action (1984), Invasion U.S.A. (1985), and The Delta Force (1986). These movies made him one of the biggest action stars of the decade. Code of Silence (1985) was also praised as one of his best films.

Walker, Texas Ranger

In the 1990s, Chuck Norris took on the role of Sergeant Cordell Walker in the popular CBS television series Walker, Texas Ranger. The show ran from 1993 to 2001 and was a huge success. It followed Walker, a Texas Ranger, as he fought criminals with his partner. The show was very popular and ranked among the top TV programs for many years.

Norris continued to act in action movies until 2006. His last major film appearance was in The Expendables 2 (2012), where he played a mercenary.

Beyond Acting: Author and Internet Fame

Chuck Norris was also a talented writer. He became a New York Times bestselling author, writing books about martial arts, exercise, and his life story. He also wrote columns for WorldNetDaily.

In 2005, Chuck Norris gained new fame on the internet. "Chuck Norris facts" became a popular Internet meme. These were funny, fictional statements that exaggerated his strength and abilities. Although he didn't create them, Norris found them amusing and even used them in advertisements. This phenomenon led to several books and video games.

Martial Arts Systems

Chuck Norris founded two important martial arts systems: American Tang Soo Do and the Chuck Norris System.

American Tang Soo Do

Norris created American Tang Soo Do in 1966. It combines elements from Moo Duk Kwan-style Tang Soo Do, Judo, and Karate. Over time, his students and other black belts have helped develop this style further.

Chuck Norris System (Chun Kuk Do)

His current martial art system is called the Chuck Norris System, which was formerly known as Chun Kuk Do. He formally founded it in 1990. It was originally based on his Tang Soo Do training from his time in the military in Korea.

As he competed, Norris improved his style by studying other martial arts like Shōtōkan, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Taekwondo. Today, the Chuck Norris System focuses on self-defense, competition, weapons training, grappling, and fitness. The United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) holds a training conference and world championship tournament every summer.

The Chuck Norris System also includes a special code of honor and rules to live by. These rules come from Norris's personal beliefs:

• I will develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways.
• I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements.
• I will continually work at developing love, happiness and loyalty in my family.
• I will look for the good in all people and make them feel worthwhile.
• If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say nothing.
• I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
• I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness.
• I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.
• I will always remain loyal to my God, my country, family and my friends.
• I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because that positive attitude helps my family, my country and myself.

Awards and Honors

Chuck Norris received many awards and honors throughout his life:

• In 1968, he won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title.
• In 1969, he was named "Fighter of the Year" by Black Belt magazine.
• In 1989, he received his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• From 1997 to 1998, he won the BMI TV Music Award for three consecutive years.
• In 1999, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Hall of Fame.
• In 2001, he received the Veteran of the Year award.
• In 2007, he was made an honorary United States Marine.
• In 2010, he was given the title of honorary Texas Ranger by the Governor of Texas.
• In 2010, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at ActionFest.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Chuck Norris married Dianne Kay Holechek in 1958. They had two sons, Mike and Eric. They divorced in 1989. In 1998, he married Gena O'Kelley, and they had twins, Dakota and Danilee, in 2001. Chuck Norris had 13 grandchildren.

Norris was a devout Christian and wrote several books with Christian themes. He was also a strong supporter of his country and the military.

He was very involved in charity work. In 1990, he founded the United Fighting Arts Federation and Kickstart Kids. This program teaches martial arts to children to help them build self-esteem and stay away from negative influences. He also supported organizations like Funds for Kids, the United Way, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His work with the U.S. Veterans Administration was inspired by his own military service.

Later Works and Passing

In his later years, Norris continued to be active. He published novels and non-fiction books. He also appeared in various advertisements. In 2012, he and his wife Gena founded CForce Bottling Co., a bottled water company.

Chuck Norris passed away on March 19, 2026, at the age of 86, in Kauai, Hawaii. He left behind a legacy as a martial arts master, a beloved action star, and a dedicated philanthropist.

Filmography

Chuck Norris's Wisdom: Quotes

• "You are not what has happened to you. You are what you choose to become."
• "There is no finish line. When you reach one goal, find a new one."
• "The only time we fail is when we stop trying."
• "If you want to accomplish anything in life, you can't just sit back and hope it will happen. You've got to make it happen."
• "Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth."
• "A lot of times people look at the negative side of what they feel they can't do. I always look on the positive side of what I can do."

Images for kids

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  Norris in 2015

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  Norris in 1976

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  Norris meeting with a commanding officer in June 2005

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  Norris with George W. Bush and Jeb Bush in 1997

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  Norris with former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in 2008

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  Norris during a ceremony in Iraq in 2006

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  Norris's Hollywood star

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  Norris receiving the Veteran of the Year award in 2001

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  Commandant Gen. James T. Conway making Norris an honorary United States Marine in 2007

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  Norris and his wife at a political event in 2016

See also

In Spanish: Chuck Norris para niños