American actor Chuck Norris has died. TMZ reported that he was hospitalised shortly before his death.
His family said it wished to keep the matter private. ‘He was a warrior, an actor and a symbol of strength to the world. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother and the heart of our family,’ the statement added.
Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, and grew up in humble circumstances. After graduating from high school in 1958, he joined the US Air Force. While stationed in Korea, he began training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.
He went on to achieve considerable success in competitions before becoming a film and television star. Norris was a six-time world karate champion in the middleweight division and founded his own style of karate, known as Chun Kuk Do, which incorporates Korean elements.
