Chuck Norris whose toughness became internet lore, dies at 86
Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in "Walker, Texas Ranger" and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy - sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents - has died at 86.
Norris died Thursday, in what his family described as a "sudden passing."
"While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace," the family said in a statement posted to social media.
Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate, known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do, and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3,300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide. Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honor........................
Chuck Norris: the man, the meme, the legend
It
was
around
the
time
of
"Dodgeball"
that
his
toughman
image
became
the
stuff
of
legend,
literally:
"Chuck
Norris
Facts"
went
viral
online
with
such
wildly
hyperbolic
statements
as,
"Chuck
Norris
had
a
staring
contest
with
the
sun
-
and
won,"
and,
"They
wanted
to
put
Chuck
Norris
on
Mt.
Rushmore,
but
the
granite
wasn't
tough
enough
for
his
beard."
Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together "The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book," which combined his favorites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by. He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir, political takes, Civil War-era historical fiction and more.
PHOTO CREDIT CHUCK NORRIS YOUTUBE