MOVIE NEWS – According to his family, the legendary action star and martial artist died on Thursday morning, surrounded by loved ones.

Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by his family in a statement saying that the actor and martial artist passed away on Thursday morning while surrounded by his family, peacefully. His relatives also made it clear that they wish to keep the circumstances private for now.

For decades, Norris was one of the defining faces of action cinema and martial arts on screen. Movie audiences first truly took notice of him opposite Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon, and he later cemented his status with titles such as Missing in Action, Missing in Action 2, Invasion U.S.A., and The Delta Force. For television viewers, however, it was Walker, Texas Ranger that made him an enduring household name.

In its statement, the family did not only reflect on his career, but also emphasized that Chuck Norris was more than an action icon. They described him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a man who represented faith, discipline, kindness, and strength for millions of people around the world. The tone of the message clearly suggested that, for those closest to him, the man mattered even more than the myth.

Over the years, Norris also found an unusual second life in pop culture through the viral “Chuck Norris facts” phenomenon, which introduced him to younger generations and turned his larger-than-life screen persona into an internet legend. Even so, his actual film legacy stands perfectly well on its own: one of the most recognizable action stars of the 1980s and 1990s is now gone.

Multiple major outlets in the United States and abroad have since confirmed Chuck Norris’s death based on the family’s announcement, leaving little doubt that one of the last true old-school action titans has passed away. It marks the end of an era – even if, on screen, he will probably remain indestructible forever.

Source: The Irish Times, Reuters, People