Hollywood action star and martial arts legend Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, his family announced in a statement posted to his official Instagram account.
Norris died on March 19, 2026, after suffering a sudden medical emergency and being hospitalized in Hawaii, according to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press. His family said he was surrounded by loved ones and asked for privacy, while declining to disclose the cause of death.
TMZ and local Hawaiian media reported that Norris had been hospitalized on the island of Kauaʻi in the last 24 hours before his death.
Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Oklahoma, he served in the U.S. Air Force and began studying martial arts while stationed in South Korea. He became a highly decorated karate champion before transitioning into acting, rising to fame in action films and later as the star of the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Norris also became a major pop-culture figure through the viral “Chuck Norris Facts” meme phenomenon, while maintaining a public profile through fitness, philanthropy and occasional screen appearances.
He is survived by his wife, Gena O’Kelley, and his children, his family said.
