Action movie legend and martial artist Chuck Norris breathed his last on Friday, at the age of 86, his family said in a statement on Friday.
Best known for his role as Cordell "Cord" Walker in the hit TV show Walker, Texas Ranger and high-octane 1980s films, including Missing in Action, Delta Force, and The Expendables 2, the news of the actor's death has shocked everyone familiar with his steely eyes, tough acting, and memes about him being unbeatable.
Norris was not just tough on-screen—prior to his Hollywood career, he also earned his place as a world-champion martial artist in karate, taekwondo, judo and Brazilian jiujitsu, with many black belts to his name.
"While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him," the Norris family wrote in an Instagram post.
"The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends," they added in the post, which mentions the actor's recent hospitalisation, but did not offer a reason for the "sudden passing".
The actor had suddenly taken ill at Hawaii and was hospitalised, despite reportedly being in "good spirits" just before the medical emergency, a TMZ report said on Thursday.
The report added that one of the actor's friends had been on the phone with him, and had said that he was cracking jokes.
The veteran actor recently celebrated his 86th birthday on March 10, posting a video from the island, in which he can be seen practising some boxing.
"Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young ... Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know," he wrote in the video's caption, cheered on by millions of fans worldwide.
He is survived by his five children and wife, Gena O’Kelley, who have requested privacy to grieve his loss.
