Chuck Norris, the famous actor and martial arts icon, has died at age 86 after news reports said he was hospitalized in Hawaii.
Norris underwent a medical emergency this week. The nature of the emergency was not disclosed. He celebrated his birthday on March 10.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” his family said 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,” the family added. “To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.”
Norris got his big breakout role in Hollywood, starring in The Way of the Dragon (1972) with fellow martial artist Bruce Lee.
He then starred in 1980s karate films, such as A Force of One and An Eye for an Eye. He later led his own television series Walker, Texas Ranger for nine seasons on CBS, starting in 1993 and ending in 2001.
Other action film credits of his include Missing in Action (1984), Code of Silence (1985), The Delta Force (1986), and The Expendables 2 (2012).
Norris once endorsed President Donald Trump in 2016. He did not issue public endorsements in the next two presidential election cycles, but he was known for his outspoken support of conservative causes.
The martial arts legend celebrated his last birthday by posting a video in which he sparred with a fighting partner.
“I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young,” he wrote in an Instagram post on March 10. “I’m grateful for another year, good health and the chance to keep doing what I love.”
When news reports of Norris’s hospitalization first came out, social media users made jokes about his martial arts prowess.
The star leaves behind his wife, Gena O’Kelley, and five children.