Carlos Ray Norris
22 min read
Reading time
4,221
Words
Published
70
Film credits
8
Books
5
Awards
Chuck Norris won the World Middleweight Karate Championship in 1968 and later became a Hollywood action star. He headlined the television series Walker Texas Ranger for eight seasons and starred in films such as The Delta Force and Missing in Action. Norris also founded his own martial art, Chun Kuk Do, and remains a cultural icon through the Chuck Norris Facts internet phenomenon.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Chuck Norris — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Chuck Norris by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Chuck Norris — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Carlos Ray Norris, born March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, moved to Torrance, California at age 12. As the eldest of three sons, he helped his mother raise his younger brothers. At North Torrance High School, he described himself as a shy, withdrawn child with no athletic interest. After graduating in 1958, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in South Korea, where he began training in Tang Soo Do—the start of his martial arts career.
Norris’s fighting career lasted from 1964 to 1974, during which he won numerous titles including the National Karate Championships 1966 and the World Middleweight Karate Championship 1967. He compiled a fight record of 65-5 and retired undefeated as Professional Full-Contact Middleweight Champion. After training with Bruce Lee and teaching students like Steve McQueen, Norris began acting at McQueen’s urging. He appeared in films such as Missing in Action 1984, Delta Force 1986, and Firewalker 1986. His biggest role came as Cordell Walker on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger 1993-2001, which he also executive produced. Norris later appeared in The Expendables 2 2012 and published books on personal empowerment.
Chuck Norris married Dianne Holechek in 1958 and they had two sons, Mike and Eric. The couple divorced in 1989. Norris later married Gena O’Kelly in 1998, and they welcomed twins Dakota Alan and Danilee Kelly in 2001. He also has a daughter, Dianna DeCioli Dina, from an extramarital affair in 1964, whom he first met when she was 26. Norris is a born-again Christian and a conservative Republican, though he has ruled out running for office. He served on the board of the National Council of Bible Curriculum in Public Schools.
Chuck Norris Facts internet memes have turned Norris into a pop culture phenomenon. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Golden Boot Award. Norris trained with Bruce Lee and taught Steve McQueen and Priscilla Presley. He founded the martial art Chun Kuk Do and the World Combat League in 2005. Texas made him an honorary Ranger in 2010, and the Marines made him an honorary Marine in 2007. Fans remember his role as Cordell Walker on Walker, Texas Ranger and his martial arts contributions.
The complete filmography of Chuck Norris — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Chuck Norris — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Chuck Norris's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Chuck Norris — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Whatever Luck I Had, I Made. I Was Never a Natural Athlete, but I Paid My Dues in Sweat and Concentration and Took the Time Necessary to Learn Karate and Become World Champion.
It’s the Bullies Who Are Afraid, Are the Ones That Do All the Fighting. It’s Not the Secure Kids That Get Out There and Fight. It’s the Insecure Kids. and When You Develop That Security in These Youngsters and All of a Sudden They Have No Reason to Fight . . . This Is to Me the Most Gratifying Thing I’ve Ever Been Able to Do.
Today, More Than Ever, the Inspiration for the Parts I Play Is Found in You Our Nation’s Men and Women in Uniform and the Selfless Contributions You Make on a Daily Basis to Keep Our Country Safe and Free. I Salute You.
I Haven’t Always Been Warmly Welcomed for Holding My Conservative Positions in Hollywood. Then Again, I’ve Never Been Very Good at Being Politically Correct Either, on or off Screen. so Why Start Now?
For Too Many Years I Was in Rebellion to God. Now I’m a Rebel with a Cause for God and for Grassroots America. I No Longer Fit the Mold. I’m Not a Liberal Actor from Hollywood. I’m Not Politically Correct, in My Opinions or My Practice. and Though I’m Concerned with What People Think, I Will Not Compromise the Truth in Any Form to Cater to Others, Even with Religion and Politics. Those Who Would Merely Brand Me on the Right Are Oversimplifying and Running from the Real Issue.
Alleged Chuck Norris Fact: There Is No Theory of Evolution. Just a List of Creatures Chuck Norris Has Allowed to Live. It’s Funny. It’s Cute. but Here’s What I Really Think About the Theory of Evolution: It’s Not Real. It Is Not the Way We Got Here. in Fact, the Life You See on This Planet Is Really Just a List of Creatures God Has Allowed to Live. We Are Not Creations of Random Chance. We Are Not Accidents. There Is a God, a Creator, Who Made You and Me. We Were Made in His Image, Which Separates Us from All Other Creatures.
Alleged Chuck Norris Fact: Faster Than a Speeding Bullet … More Powerful Than a Locomotive … Able to Leap Tall Buildings in a Single Bound… Yes, These Are Some of Chuck Norris’ Warm up Exercises. I’ve Got a Bulletin for You, Folks. I Am No Superman. I Realize That Now, but I Didn’t Always. as Six Time World Karate Champion and Then a Movie Star, I Put Too Much Trust in Who I Was, What I Could Do and What I Acquired. I Forgot How Much I Needed Others and Especially God. Whether We Are Famous or Not, We All Need God. We Also Need Other People.
Alleged Chuck Norris Fact: Chuck Norris’ Tears Can Cure Cancer. Too Bad He Never Cries. Ever. There Was a Man Whose Tears Could Cure Cancer or Any Other Disease, Including the Real Cause of All Diseases Sin. His Blood Did. His Name Was Jesus, Not Chuck Norris. If Your Soul Needs Healing, the Prescription You Need Is Not Chuck Norris’ Tears, It’s Jesus’ Blood.
There Are a Dozen Death Spots, Another Dozen Paralyzing Death Spots, and Many, Many Disabling Spots on the Body. We Human Beings Are Quite Fragile, You Know.
After Years of Learning to Control My Emotions in Karate, I Found It Very Difficult to Reverse That Process and Fully Express Them. but I Learn from My Mistakes and Develop More as an Actor with Each Film Role.
I Don’t Initiate Violence, I Retaliate.
There Has Always Been Violence on the Screen, and Certain Groups Claim That Some Antisocial Behavior Can Be Traced to These Violent Films. I Believe That’s Hogwash. the Violence on Television News Programs Is Much More Harmful Because It’s Real. We All Have the Potential to Be Violent, but We Must Learn to Control These Impulses.
I’ve Known John McCain for Over Twenty Years. He’s a Man of Integrity, but a Lot of His Social Issues, I Didn’t Lean Toward. I’m Not a Republican or Democrat. I’m Conservative. Now That John Has Brought Someone Like Sarah Palin on the Ticket, It Makes Me More Confident That They Could Do a Tremendous Job in the White House.
My Choice Would Be John McCain and Sarah Palin Mainly Because, with Sarah, I Think She’d Make a Good President Because She’s a No Nonsense Gal and She Has Much More Experience Than Barack Obama. Europe Now Is Not Infatuated with Barack Obama Anymore. They Are Infatuated with Sarah Palin.
I Admire Those in the Recent Past Who Were Able to Represent a Respectful Conservatism in a Liberal Leaning, Show Business Industry: Men Like Charlton Heston, John Wayne, James Stewart and Ronald Reagan. and I’m Grateful for Others Today Who Have Also Stood for Conservative Values, Incredible Actors Like Jim Caviezel, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight. Jon Has Recently Stepped up to the Plate for Thousands of Others Who Can’t Because They’d Be Cast Aside by Casting Directors If Their Conservatism Was Even Made Known. Jon Is Taking the Brunt End for Them from Critics Who Have No Tolerance for Actors on the Right. These Are the Type of Men Who Will Go Against the Grain of the Hollywood Status Quo. These Are the Type of Men Who Get the Fact That Entertainment Isn’t About Playing Party Politics. These Are the Type of Men Who Demonstrate What My Hero and the Stalwart Conservative John Wayne Once Said, Courage Is Being Scared to Death, and Saddling up Anyway.
I Think We’re Heading Down the Wrong Direction. We Need to Restore Patriotism as the Founders Meant It to Be. We Need to Restore Our Sense of Stability, Morality and Our Responsibility. I Think We Have Drifted from That. We Just Need to Get Back Like Our Founding Fathers. I Do a Lot of Reading About Our Founding Fathers and on Our History, You Know. They Had a Vision for America That Was Not Corrupted by Greed and Power and I Think Unfortunately Many of Our Politicians Have Fallen into That Trap.
I May Run for President of Texas. That Need May Be a Reality Sooner Than We Think. If Not Me, Someone Someday May Again Be Running for President of the Lone Star State, If the State of the Union Continues to Turn into the Enemy of the State. Anyone Who Has Been Around Texas for Any Length of Time Knows Exactly What We’d Do If the Going Got Rough in America.
Listen, You’ve Got to Be 21 to Be Smoking a Cigar in the First Place. and Smoking a Cigar Is an Experience, Not Like Smoking a Pack of Cigarettes Every Day. a Cigar Is for Relaxation. I Do Enjoy Cigar Smoking and I’m Old Enough to Smoke. Anything Done in Excess Is Going to Be Bad for You, Whether It’s Eating, Drinking or Whatever. the Key to Enjoying Cigar Smoking Is Moderation. I’m Not Going to Hide Out in Some Back Room and Tell the World That I Don’t Smoke Cigars. I’m Not Going to Lie About It.
I Don’t Approve of Athletes or Celebrities Who Say That They Don’t Want to Be a Role Model for Children. the Kids Still Look up to Them, and the Least They Can Do Is Not Allow Their Lives to Go in a Negative Direction. They Have a Responsibility to Children Whether They Like It or Not. and I Think They Should Adhere to That Responsibility.
I Think Kids Today Need Someone to Emulate, Because a Lot of Times They Don’t Have That at Home. Kids Have to Find It Elsewhere. and a Lot of Kids Today Look in a Negative Direction. They Look up to Drug Addicts, Gang Members, Because They Don’t Have Positive Role Models.
Success in Show Business Is Misleading. You Can Be Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. One Day They Want to See You, the Next Day They Could Care Less. That’s the Way It Is. You Never Know When That Day Is Gonna Come When People Say, ‘I’ve Seen All I Want to See of That Guy.’ I Started Later in Life. I Was 36 Before I Got into the Film Business and at That Time I Had Already Achieved a Modicum of Success in the Martial Arts World. so When I Went into Films I Was Already Pretty Centered. Understanding the Philosophy of Life Means That Success Can Be Very Fleeting and You Just Do the Best You Can. Work as Hard as You Can and Just See What Happens with All That. If It’s Successful, Great. If It’s Not, Move On. I’ve Never Really Let the Pressure Get to Me.
Little-known facts about Chuck Norris — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Only one of three people from the United States to achieve eighth-degree black belt status in taekwondo.
His personal favorite is Before the Boogie Man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
He had a 10th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, the Korean or traditional styles of each.
Often trained with Bruce Lee.
The website Chuck Norris Facts has been created as a parody of his career, containing hundreds of absurdly creative statements about his intellect, strength, virility and image, such as Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane by pointing at it and yelling Bang! Chuck is not offended by the website and has said he feels honored and laughs when he reads the facts. He even used one fact in The Expendables 2 2012: Chuck Norris was once bitten by a cobra. After five days of agonizing pain, the cobra finally died.
Reader’s Digest once noted a story of how Norris, true to his characters, prefers to find a non-violent way to solve a situation. Norris was in a bar once when a customer walked in and said to him, You’re in my seat. Move. Norris complied, and as the customer sat down, he recognized Norris. He then said, Chuck, you could’ve kicked my butt if you wanted to. Instead of moving, why didn’t you just attack me? Norris’ response: What would that have accomplished? Norris later said the experience resulted in him getting a new admirer and a new friend.
He was a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the Machado Brothers.
Chuck and his brother Aaron Norris were made honorary Texas Rangers by Gov. Rick Perry on December 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas.
He was the karate teacher of father-son actors Steve McQueen and Chad McQueen. The elder McQueen encouraged Norris to pursue a career in movies and television; allegedly, he told Chuck: If you can’t do anything else, there’s always acting.
His voice and drama coach was Jonathan Harris, of Lost in Space 1965 fame. Harris taught him how to speak by putting his fingers in Norris’s mouth and stretching the mouth wide open. Chuck names Jonathan as the only man in the world who could get away with doing that to him, which Harris was always proud of.
He was made an honorary Marine in March 2007.
Visited US forces fighting in Iraq.
Had a daughter, Dianna DeCioli Dina, out of wedlock in 1964. He saw her for the first time in 1991, when she was 26. Her daughter is married and has three children. Chuck wrote about her in his book Against All Odds: My Story.
He founded two of his own martial arts: Chun Kuk Do the Universal Way and American Tang Soo Do.
On an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger 1993, his co-star Clarence Gilyard Jr.’s character read the book The Secret Power Within, which Norris wrote himself.
Both Michael Landon and Dan Blocker studied karate under him, as well as Blocker’s children.
His father Ray was killed in a car accident shortly after cancer surgery. Part of Ray’s throat and chin were removed; a tube was inserted in his trachea to help him breathe. Ray was thrown out of his car in the wreck, and the tube came out. Ray suffocated on the ground because no one at the accident site was aware of the tube.
A newly-built bridge spanning from Slovakia into neighboring Austria is to be named after Chuck Norris.
Was a guest star on The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular 2003 honoring Bob Barker’s 80th birthday. Other celebrity guests included Céline Dion, Ray Romano, Charlie Sheen and Larry King.
As a child, his idol and favorite actor was John Wayne. Their on-screen personas bear much in common. Both achieved their highest level of fame playing no-nonsense good guys who were incorruptible and did whatever it took to make sure that justice was served and that the bad guys got what they deserved.
Was to appear in Delta Force 3: The Killing Game 1991, but he withdrew following the helicopter crash during the making of Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection 1990.
It is commonly believed that he was offered the role of Sensei Jon Kreese in the original The Karate Kid 1984. He reportedly turned it down, claiming he did not want his name connected with such a brutal and vicious character. This is an urban legend; Norris himself has disputed it. While appearing on the February 9, 2006 episode of the radio show hosted by Adam Carolla, Norris stated that he was never offered the role at all.
6-time World Karate Champion; among those he faced for this title are fellow actors Joe Lewis and Steve Sanders.
He and his wife both serve on the board of the National Council of Bible Curriculum in Public Schools.
Although a vocal conservative Republican and born-again Christian, Norris has ruled out running for elected office himself.
He was the Founder of the National Tang-Soo-Do Congress NTC and the United Fighting Arts Federation UFAF. Chuck is also President of the latter.
There is a restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland, named in honor of the actor, The Chuck Norris Grill.
Won in 2006 the Jewish Humanitarian Man of the Year Award.
Participated on the TV show The Contender 2005 with fellow action superstar Sylvester Stallone.
Has a karate studio in Norfolk, Virginia.
While serving in Japan with the US Air Force as an MP, Norris sought out a judo studio. He settled for karate classes because judo would have conflicted with his Air Force duty schedule. This was one of those career-determining factors according to Norris’s autobiography The Secret of Inner Strength.
Portrayed by Ray Park in The Legend of Bruce Lee 2008 TV series.
In 2005 he founded the World Combat League, a full-contact, team-based martial arts competition.
He had 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do, a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, an 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 5th degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family, and a black belt in Judo.
He was not athletic as a child and describes himself as having been withdrawn and shy.
Father of Mike Norris and Eric Norris, the latter of whom is a professional stock car driver. Their mother is Diane Holechek. Chuck also has a daughter named Dianna DeCioli Dina. Dina was born in 1964 due to an extramarital affair when he was stationed in California in the US Air Force. More recently, on August 30, 2001, Chuck and Gena O’Kelly his second wife welcomed twins Dakota Alan Norris boy and Danilee Kelly Norris girl.
12/12/01: Received Veteran of the Year 2001 honor at the 6th Annual American Veteran Awards.
He has studied Shotokan Karate, Goju-ryu Karate, Shito-ryu Karate, American Kenpo, Enshin kaikan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kali, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido and has integrated all of them into his own fighting style, called the Chuck Norris System or Chuk Kun Do.
Despite their vast political differences, he is friends with actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg. He was so impressed with a performance of hers that he tried, unsuccessfully, to get her a role in his film Invasion U.S.A. 1985.
He began training in martial arts while stationed in South Korea during his service in the US Air Force.
Eldest of three sons born to Ray and Wilma Norris. Chuck’s brothers are Wieland Clyde Norris born July 12, 1943; KIA in Vietnam on June 3, 1970 and Aaron Norris. Aaron is the youngest of the three. Wieland was attached to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam when he was killed from small arms fire just outside of Fire Support Base Ripcord. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously and is buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
In 1992, he presented an acting seminar in Texas; his students included a then-12-year-old Jessica Simpson. Norris urged Jessica to channel your inner Denzel Washington; he also put masking tape on her eyebrows, claiming they moved too much when she was performing. Despite a popular misconception, neither Jessica nor her music were ever featured on Norris’s hit TV series Walker, Texas Ranger 1993.
Release of his book Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America.
Norris had English, with smaller amounts of Scottish, Welsh, and German, ancestry. He also had Irish and Cherokee ancestry.
He enjoyed playing golf and participates in many celebrity golfing events.
Once went under Phil McGraw’s training, and is his greatest student.
He was a close friend of President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush.
Was the initial choice for the character of Red Forman on the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show 1998, but was still filming Walker, Texas Ranger 1993, so he had to turn it down.
Attended Hamilton Junior High School in Houston, Texas in the early 1950s before moving to Torrance, California.
One of only four people to appear in the Walker, Texas Ranger pilot One Riot, One Ranger and the finale The Final Show/Down. The four, in credits order, were: Chuck Norris Walker, Clarence Gilyard Jr. Trivette, Sheree J. Wilson Alex Cahill, later Alex Cahill-Walker, and Marshall R. Teague Orson Wade in the pilot, and Emile Lavocat/Mills Moon Lavocat in the two-hour, multiple-timeline finale.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Chuck Norris.
Celebrities similar to Chuck Norris — same craft, ranked by reach.
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