https://variety.com/2026/film/news/chuck-norris-dead-walker-texas-ranger-dies-1236694953/ an image, when javascript is unavailable * Plus Icon Film * Plus Icon TV * Plus Icon What To Watch * Plus Icon Music * Plus Icon Docs * Plus Icon Digital & Gaming * Plus Icon Global * Plus Icon Awards Circuit * Plus Icon Video * Plus Icon What To Hear Plus Icon Click to expand the Mega Menu Plus Icon Click to Expand Search Input * Got a Tip? * Newsletters Switch edition between U.S. Edition Asia Edition Global Edition * U.S. * Asia * Global Variety Plus Icon Click to expand the Mega Menu Plus Icon Click to Expand Search Input Variety Plus Icon Read Next: Chuck Norris Was a Great Action Star -- but Politics May Overshadow His Legacy 1. Home 2. Film 3. News Mar 20, 2026 6:57am PT Chuck Norris, Action Icon and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Star, Dies at 86 By Carmel Dagan Plus Icon Carmel Dagan Staff Writer Latest * Robert Duvall, Star of 'The Godfather' and 'The Great Santini,' Dies at 95 1 month ago * Diane Ladd, Actress in 'Wild at Heart' and 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' and Laura Dern's Mother, Dies at 89 5 months ago * Samantha Eggar, Star of 'Doctor Dolittle,' Cronenberg's 'The Brood,' Dies at 86 5 months ago See All * * * * * * * * * * * * * American actor Chuck Norris (b.1940) plays Texas Ranger Cordell Cord Walker in the episode On The Border from the television show "Walker, Texas Ranger", 1998. United States. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) Getty Images Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who became an iconic action star and led the hit series "Walker, Texas Ranger," has died. He was 86. Norris was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday, and his family posted a statement Friday saying that he died that morning. "While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace," his family wrote. Related Stories Courtesy of Region Hauts-de-France Pictanovo, Film France-CNC Bring U.S. Studio, Production Execs to Hauts-de-France on Series Mania Tour Ryan Gosling Ghost Rider Ryan Gosling Confirms 'Some Discussions Have Been Had' With Marvel About Playing Ghost Rider but 'It's a Complicated Situation': 'Keep Hope Alive' View this post on Instagram "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 continued. "He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives." Popular on Variety As an action star, Norris had a degree of credibility that most others could not match.. Not only did he appear opposite the legendary Bruce Lee in 1972 film "The Way of the Dragon" (aka "Return of the Dragon"), but he was a genuine martial arts champion who was a black belt in judo, 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 5th degree black belt in Karate, 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do. Norris was extremely prolific in the late 1970s and '80s, starring in "The Delta Force" and "Missing in Action" films, "Good Guys Wear Black" (1978), "The Octagon" (1980), "Lone Wolf McQuade" (1983), "Code of Silence" (1985) and "Firewalker" (1986). Norris joined a bevy of other action stars in the Sylvester Stallone-directed "The Expendables 2" in 2012 after an absence from the screen of seven years. While he scored high on credibility, Norris did not leaven his work with humor the way Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Jackie Chan did. He was nevertheless the action star of choice for those seeking an all-American icon. In 1984, Norris starred in "Missing in Action," the first in a series of films centered around the rescue of American POWs purportedly still held after being captured during the Vietnam War. (Norris' younger brother Wieland had been killed while serving in Vietnam, and the actor dedicated his "Missing in Action" films to his brother's memory, but critics of Norris and producer Cannon Films maintained that the films borrowed too heavily from the central conceit of Stallone's highly successful "Rambo" films.) As Norris' movie career began to wane, he made a timely move to television, starring in the CBS series "Walker, Texas Ranger," inspired by his film "Lone Wolf McQuade." The program ran from 1993-2001, and the actor reprised the role of Cordell Walker in the TV movies "Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion" (1994) and "Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire" (2005). (Also in 2005 Norris made the last film in which he starred, the straight-to-DVD "The Cutter.") In his later years, Norris was portrayed in memes documenting fictional, frequently absurd feats associated with him, such as "Chuck Norris kills 100% of germs" and "Paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, but Chuck Norris beats all 3 at the same time." In his later years Norris appeared in infomercials for workout equipment and became increasingly outspoken as a political conservative. Carlos Ray Norris was born in Ryan, Okla.; his father served as a soldier in World War II. In 1958 he joined the Air Force as an Air Policeman (AP, analogous to the Army's MPs). While serving at Osan Air Base in South Korea, Norris first acquired the nickname "Chuck" and began his training in Tang Soo Do (aka tangsudo), leading to his achievements in other martial arts and to his development of hybrid style Chun Kuk Do ("The Universal Way"). He returned to the U.S. and served as an AP at March Air Force Base in California. After his 1962 discharge, Norris worked for aerospace company Northrop and opened a chain of karate schools; celebrity clients at the schools included Steve McQueen, Chad McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. Norris made his acting debut in an uncredited role in the 1969 cult Matt Helm film "The Wrecking Crew," starring Dean Martin. Norris met Bruce Lee at a martial arts demonstration in Long Beach, Calif., and played the nemesis of Lee's character in 1972 movie "The Way of the Dragon" (retitled "Return of the Dragon" for U.S. distribution). In 1974 McQueen spurred Norris to begin taking acting classes at MGM. Norris first starred in the 1977 action film "Breaker! Breaker!," in which he played a trucker searching for his brother, who's disappeared in a town with a judge who's corrupt. The actor proved his box office mettle with his subsequent films, "Good Guys Wear Black" (1978), "The Octagon" (1980), "An Eye for an Eye" (1981) and "Lone Wolf McQuade." Norris began starring in movies for Cannon Films in 1984. Over the next four years, he became Cannon's most prominent star, appearing in eight films, including the three "Missing in Action" films; "Code of Silence" -- qualitatively, one of his best films -- the two "Delta Force" films and "Firewalker." Norris' brother Aaron Norris produced several of these films, and also became a producer on "Walker, Texas Ranger." A longtime supporter of conservative politicians, he wrote several books with Christian and patriotic themes. Norris was twice married, the first time to Dianne Holechek from 1958 until their divorce in 1988. He is survived by second wife Gena O'Kelley, whom he married in 1998; three sons, Eric, Mike and Dakota, daughters Danilee and Dina; and a number of grandchildren. Read More About: * Chuck Norris Jump to Comments More from Variety * the beauty streaming online Ryan Murphy's 'The Beauty' Is Now Streaming on Hulu * Peter Gould Victoria Pedretti Kiera Allen Peter Gould's 'Disinherited' Starring Victoria Pedretti and Kiera Allen Ordered to Series at FX JavaScript is required to load the comments. Loading comments... Most Popular * Chuck Norris, Action Icon and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Star, Dies at 86 American actor Chuck Norris (b.1940) plays Texas Ranger Cordell Cord Walker in the episode On The Border from the television show "Walker, Texas Ranger", 1998. United States. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) * Taylor Frankie Paul Speaks Out After ABC Pulls 'The Bachelorette' Amid Domestic Violence Investigation: 'Too Many Women Are Suffering in Silence... Taylor frankie paul bachelorette * 'Grey's Anatomy' Creator Shonda Rhimes Says Eric Dane Was Excluded From Oscars In Memoriam Because 'He's Not a Movie Star': 'We Can't Fault the... GREY'S ANATOMY, Eric Dane, 'State of Love and Trust', (Season 6, episode 13, aired February 4, 2010), 2005 -, photo: Adam Larkey / (c)ABC / courtesy Everett Collection * * Natasha Lyonne Posts Health Update Two Months After Relapse: 'Doing a Whole Lot Better and Back on Her Feet' SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Natasha Lyonne attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) * ABC Will Lose Tens of Millions of Dollars if Taylor Frankie Paul's 'The Bachelorette' Doesn't Air Taylor frankie paul bachelorette * ABC Pulls 'The Bachelorette' Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Allegations THE BACHELORETTE: "Arrivals" - Taylor Frankie Paul is ready to trade fractured fairytales for a first impression rose as she begins making her mark on Bachelor Nation. With hope, heart, and a little faith, she welcomes a new group of bachelors, each vying for a lasting love. SUNDAY, MARCH 22 (8:01-10:02 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Bahareh Ritter) TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL * Val Kilmer Resurrected by AI to Star in 'As Deep as the Grave' Movie -- First Look (EXCLUSIVE) Val Kilmer * The 'Love Story' Effect: How Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Style Fueled a New York City Retail Boom carolyn bessette co bigelow * CBS News to Lay Off 6% of Staff, Shut Down CBS News Radio Service Bari Weiss CBS News * ABC Scrambles to Delete 'Bachelorette' Season 22 Promo Content Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Fallout Taylor frankie paul bachelorette Must Read * Film Oscar Winners 2026: 'One Battle After Another' Triumphs With 6 Wins, 'Sinners' Follows With 4 By Andrew Wallenstein 5 days Oscar Winners 2026: 'One Battle After Another' Triumphs With 6 Wins, 'Sinners' Follows With 4 * TV Inside the Oscars: Execs Explain In Memoriam Omissions, Playing Off 'KPop Demon Hunters' Winners and Bringing Back Conan O'Brien as... THE OSCARS(r) - Hosted by Conan O'Brien, the 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby(r) Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and airs live in more than 200 territories worldwide. (Disney/Frank Micelotta) CONAN O'BRIEN * Film Michael B. Jordan Wins the Oscar and Shouts Out Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and More: 'I Stand Here Because of the People Who Came Before Me... Michael B Jordan Best Actor Win Oscars * Awards Jessie Buckley Makes Oscars History as First Irish Best Actress Winner, Dedicates Win to the 'Beautiful Chaos of a Mother's Heart' Jessie Buckley Best Actress Oscar Wi * Film 'Sinners' DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes Oscar History as First Woman to Win Best Cinematography Autumn Durald Arkapaw at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. Sign Up for Variety Newsletters Your Email [ ] Sign Up Sign Up By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Variety Confidential A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast More From Our Brands * Rolling Stone Fairy Tales Meet Footwear: Brooks & runDisney Launch a New Line of Princess-Powered Sneakers [lazyload-f] * Robb Report Inside a Historic N.Y.C. Townhouse Where Painter Mark Rothko Once Lived [lazyload-f] * Sportico Washington's New Millionaires' Tax Will Hit Pro Athletes [lazyload-f] * WWD From the Archive: Betsey Johnson, an Ageless Icon of Fun and Fearless Style [lazyload-f] Lazy loaded image Variety * About Us * Advertise * Media Kit * Careers Legal * Terms of Use * Privacy Policy * California Privacy Rights * Privacy Preferences * AdChoices * Your Privacy Choices * Accessibility Magazine * Customer Service * Back Issues * Subscribe * Help More * Newsletters * Archives * Events * Luminate Connect * Instagram * Twitter * YouTube * Facebook * LinkedIn Variety The Business of Entertainment Subscribe Today Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. (c) 2026 Variety Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Powered by WordPress.com VIP Have a News Tip? Let us know Variety Close the menu * Expand the sub menu Film + News + Reviews + Podcasts + Box Office + Events + Columns + Trailers * Expand the sub menu TV + News + Reviews + Podcasts + Ratings + Columns + Trailers * Expand the sub menu What To Watch + Lists & Features * Expand the sub menu Music + News + Album Reviews + Concert Reviews + Hitmakers + Music For Screens + Grammys * Expand the sub menu Docs + Lists & Features * Expand the sub menu Tech + Features + Global + VIP+ Tech * Expand the sub menu Global + News + Asia + Markets & Festivals + Features * Expand the sub menu Awards Circuit + News + Film Predictions + TV Predictions + Video + Artisans + Columns + Awards Circuit Podcast * Expand the sub menu Video + Popular + Cover Shoots - Behind the Scenes + Actors on Actors + Power of Women + Events + Artisans * Expand the sub menu What to Hear + Lists & Features * Expand the sub menu More Coverage + Obituaries - submit obituaries to obits@variety.com + Photos + Podcasts + Scene + Voices + Theater * Expand the sub menu More Variety + Live Media Summits + Vscore + Luminate - Film & TV + Variety Archives + Variety500 + Industry Executives * Have a News Tip? * * Newsletters Switch edition between U.S. Edition Asia Edition Global Edition * U.S. * Asia * Global Alerts and Newsletters Your Email [ ] Sign Up Sign Up By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Follow Us * * * * * * Got a Tip? Switch edition between U.S. Edition Asia Edition Global Edition * U.S. * Asia * Global * Advertise * About * Contact Us Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. (c) 2026 Variety Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Icon Link Plus Icon ad Quantcast *