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Martial Arts Icon Chuck Norris Passes Away at 86, Tributes Pour In
The world is mourning the loss of a true cultural icon, Chuck Norris, who passed away on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai at the age of 86. The legendary martial artist, acclaimed action movie star, and beloved internet figure’s family announced his passing via social media on Friday, sparking an immediate outpouring of grief and tributes from fans globally.
Among those honoring Norris was sports commentator Pat McAfee, with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also dedicating an unplanned on-air tribute during the network’s popular “First Take” program. Smith, reflecting on Norris’s profound impact, extended his condolences to the family and loved ones.
“When we think about mixed martial arts, we think about it today because of the UFC. We got to remember where it emanates from. The true warriors in the profession, in the sport,” Smith stated, emphasizing Norris’s foundational role.
Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, Norris was already an established martial arts champion before achieving global fame. His iconic 1972 fight scene with Bruce Lee in “Way of the Dragon” cemented his status, launching a prolific career that defined action cinema for decades.
“We had two people that we leaned on, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee. That was it,” Smith recalled.
“And seeing them in the movies together was absolutely sensational… The only thing you can say negatively about him is that he wasn’t Bruce Lee when it came to martial arts in a lot of people’s eyes, because Bruce Lee was the creme de la creme.
But Chuck Norris was absolutely positively special.”
Following his breakout role, Norris commanded the screen in a string of 1980s action blockbusters, including “Lone Wolf McQuade,” “Missing in Action,” “Code of Silence,” and “The Delta Force.” He later achieved widespread television fame as Sergeant Cordell Walker in the hit action crime drama “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which ran for nine seasons.
Smith underscored Norris’s significant contribution to the sport’s popularity in America. “When you talk about a heightened awareness and a heightened interest in martial arts in America… a lot of people deferred to the popularity and the notoriety of Chuck Norris, and what he brought to that specialty,” he added.
Norris’s influence, Smith believes, was instrumental in paving the way for the modern mixed martial arts landscape. “On a day like today where the UFC is so huge, so big – and we see mixed martial arts and it’s constantly bantered about and talked about – people forget that in the 70s and the 80s it wasn’t about all of that.
It was about Chuck Norris,” Smith concluded. “He did a lot more than people realize, so it’s sad that he’s gone at the age of 86.
But we’re all grateful for the time that he gave us during his time on earth.”