Practice News Story: Obituary

Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, American martial artist, action star, Hollywood television actor, writer and humanitarian, died at the age of 66, in Hollywood, early Tuesday evening at 4:30 p.m.from a heart attack while filming an infomercial for his “Total Gym.”

He was born on Mar. 10, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma. He finished high school and soon after in 1958 married his girlfriend, Diane Holechek. In that same year Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman and was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea. It was in South Korea that Norris acquired the nickname “Chuck” and began his training in Tang Soo Do (tangsudo). He won several black belts in that art, as well as Taekwondo, and Shito ryu Karate, and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 1968, Chuck fought and won the World Professional MiddleWeight Karate championships by defeating the World's Top Fighters. He held that title until 1974 when he retired undefeated.

In 1968, he was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Fighter of the Year. In 1975, he was inducted as Instructor of the Year and in 1977 he received the honor of Man of the Year. In 1997 he made history when he was the first man ever in the Western hemisphere to be awarded an 8th Degree Black Belt Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do which was a first in 4,500 years of tradition. On July 1, 2000 he was presented the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.

His first starring role was 1977's Breaker! Breaker!, and later starred in films such as The Octagon (1980), An Eye for an Eye (1981), and Lone Wolf McQuade. In 1984, he starred in Missing in Action, the first of a series of POW rescue fantasies. In 1993, he began shooting the series Walker, Texas Ranger, which lasted eight years on CBS.

He was the founder of the Chun Kuk Do ("Universal Way") form and the education associations United Fighting Arts Federation and with help of President George Bush, Chuck implemented his "KickStart" program, helping youngsters resist drug-related peer pressures through martial arts training teaching the martial arts to children in middle schools and high schools.

He is survived by his ex-wife Diane Holechek, sons Mike and Eric and daughter Dina, wife Gena O’Kelley and son Dakota and daughter Danilee. He is also survived by brothers Wieland and Aaron.

Funeral services are yet to be announced.