Legendary actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, just days after celebrating his birthday on March 10. His family confirmed his sudden passing in a statement released Friday.
According to reports, Norris had been hospitalized in Hawaii following a medical emergency shortly before his death.
However, an official cause of death has not yet been made public. His family shared that he was surrounded by loved ones and at peace in his final moments, while asking for privacy as they grieve.
Norris rose to fame after starring alongside Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon and became a major action star throughout the 1980s.
He later gained widespread recognition for his role in the hit TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, which ran for nine seasons starting in 1993.
In recent years, he experienced renewed popularity through viral “Chuck Norris facts” memes. Notably, he had previously suffered two heart att4cks in 2017, though it is unclear whether that played any role in his passing.
Fans were especially shocked by the news, as Norris had recently shared a video of himself training and appeared to be in good spirits.