Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who integrated his combat prowess into starring roles in vigilante and gritty action films, died Thursday at 86, his family confirmed.
Prior to becoming an actor, Norris won several martial arts championships before founding his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. He became widely known in the 1980s for his heroic roles in crowd-pleasing films like “The Delta Force” and “Missing in Action,” as well as the long-running television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” placing alongside action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
But Norris was more than roundhouse kicks and a tough-guy image. He was also a competitive offshore powerhouse racer and spent time speeding through Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans…