• Faith: Christian
• Career: Actor
• Birthday:  March 10, 1940
• Date of Death:  March 20, 2026

Chuck Norris was an actor and martial artist. He had a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his discipline, Chun Kuk Do. Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts and went on to appear in a minor role in “The Wrecking Crew.” His friend and fellow martial artist Bruce Lee invited him to play one of the main villains in “The Way of the Dragon.”

While Norris continued acting, his friend and student Steve McQueen suggested he take it seriously. He took the starring role in “Breaker! Breaker!,” which turned a profit. His second lead, “Good Guys Wear Black,” became a hit, and Norris soon became a famous film star. He went on to star in a streak of independently made action and martial arts movies, like “A Force of One,” “The Octagon,” and “An Eye for an Eye,” making Norris an international celebrity. He went on to make studio films like “Silent Rage,” “Forced Vengeance,” and “Lone Wolf McQuade.” These films led Cannon Films to sign Norris into a multiple-film deal, starting with “Missing in Action,” which proved to be successful and launched a trilogy.

Norris also started to work almost exclusively on high-profile action movies with Cannon, becoming its leading star during the 1980s. Movies with Cannon include “Invasion U.S.A.,” “The Delta Force,” and “Firewalker,” among others. Aside from Cannon films, Norris made “Code of Silence,” which was received as one of his best films. In the 1990s, he played the title role in the long-running CBS series “Walker, Texas Ranger” from 1993 until 2001. Until 2006, he continued taking lead roles in action films, including “Delta Force 2,” “The Hitman,” “Sidekicks,” “Forest Warrior,” and “The President’s Man” and its sequel. His most recent film appearance to date was in Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables 2.”

Throughout his TV and film career, Norris diversified his regular endeavors. He was a noted writer, having written books on exercise, martial arts, Christianity, politics, philosophy, Western fiction, and biography. He’s a twice New York Times bestselling author, first with his book on his philosophy of positive force and the psychology of self-improvement based on personal anecdotes called “The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story.” His second New York Times bestseller, “Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America,” details his critique of current issues in the US.

Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, in 1940. He was the oldest of three brothers, the younger two being Aaron and Wieland. Tragically, Wieland died in 1970. When Norris was 16, his parents divorced, and he relocated to Prairie View, Kansas, then to Torrance, California, with his mother and brothers.

Chuck Norris died March 20, 2026 at the age of 86 after news broke that he suffered a medical emergency that landed him in the hospital. The actor’s family confirmed his death in a social media statement. “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the statement, posted on his Instagram, began. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace." The statement continued, "“He lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. 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."

What religion was Chuck Norris?

Norris identified as a Christian. He was described as an outspoken Christian and wrote several Christian-themed books. Norris was a Baptist and a member of the Prestwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. In his autobiography, “Against All Odds: My Story,” he detailed the night when his wife went into pre-term labor with twins, writing, “I had earned millions of dollars over my lifetime. I’d been a friend to several presidents, yet all the money in my bank account couldn’t help me now. There was only one person to whom I could turn. It was God.”