Chuck Norris was a martial arts hero whose tough guy image led to later fame as an internet meme.

His family said in a statement today that they wished to keep his cause of death private.

His family said in a statement today that they wished to keep his cause of death private.

Actor, martial artist and the source of a meme about him being unbeatable, has passed away.

Chuck Norris — the martial artist, actor, author, and pop‑culture legend whose name became synonymous with toughness for generations — has died. He passed away on Thursday, his family announced in a statement. Norris was 86. In a message shared publicly, the Norris family said his passing was sudden and that he was “surrounded by […]

KAUAI, HAWAII - Chuck Norris, the square-jawed martial artist and Hollywood action hero who became a symbol of rugged American masculinity as star of the CBS series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and later as a popular internet meme, died Thursday, his family said. He was 86. “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” Norris’ family said in a post on Instagram on Friday. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.” “To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family. He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,” Norris’ family added. He was best known for his nine-season run as Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker, a steely-eyed former Marine who dispensed Lone Star justice with roundhouse…