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The legendary American actor and martial artist Chuck Norris passed away this Thursday in Hawaii at the age of 86, as confirmed by his family in a statement on their social media and reported by U.S. media.
The news has triggered a wave of reactions on social media, where the iconic actor remained a cult figure.
"With deep sadness, our family announces the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris," his relatives stated, specifying that he died surrounded by his loved ones and in peace.
"For the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. For us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an amazing brother, and the heart of our family," the text says.
On March 19, TMZ published an article warning that the artist had a medical emergency on the island of Kauai and was hospitalized. However, at that time they assured that Chuck was already in good spirits.
The family did not reveal the causes of death, but sources close to them indicated that his passing was unexpected. The day before he died, the actor was active, exercising and in good spirits.
Norris became a symbol of action cinema in the 1980s and 1990s with titles like The Delta Force and Missing in Action, in addition to his popular role as Cordell Walker in the series Walker, Texas Ranger.
Beyond the screen, he was a black belt in multiple disciplines and an influential figure in the world of martial arts.
Born in Oklahoma in 1940, he served in the United States Air Force before beginning his artistic career. He also maintained a close relationship with Bruce Lee, with whom he shared the screen in The Way of the Dragon (1972).
In recent years, Norris had stepped away from acting, although he remained very active on social media, where his image inspired countless memes about his strength. He is survived by his children and an indelible legacy in cinema and in the culture of the United States and the world.
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