Chuck Norris' death at 86 sent shockwaves through the entertainment community, and even got noted Hollywood stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and others paying homage to the fallen legend.

The news of Norris's death was revealed by his family on March 20. They described his death as a sudden one, along with assuring fans that “he was surrounded by his family and was at peace” during his death. It was followed by an outpouring of tributes from global icons across the entertainment world.

On March 21, Schwarzenegger penned a heartfelt note on X to honor Norris' legacy. The Terminator lead said, "Chuck was an icon. I am grateful that I was able to work with him in multiple ways over the years, from promoting fitness to sharing the screen together. He was a b*****, in real life and in Hollywood. His legend will be with us forever. My thoughts are with his family."

The 7-time Mr. Olympia and Norris's on-screen collaboration began in 2012 with The Expendables 2. In that movie, Norris played the role of a retired operative Booker alongside the Austrian Oak and Sylvester Stallone. They were both involved in the fitness culture; Norris was a pioneer of martial arts, and Schwarzenegger was a pioneer of bodybuilding.

Apart from Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, the Belgian martial artist and actor, also mourned Norris' demise with an Instagram post on March 20.

Damme posted, “Deepest condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris. We knew each other from my early days, and I always respected the man he was. My heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be forgotten”.

Given that Damme trained with Norris for nearly 2 years in the early 1980s, it's understandable that he felt the pang of losing such an old friend.

On Friday, Sylvester Stallone, Norris' co-star from The Expendables 2, also paid tribute to him with an Instagram post that read, “I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All-American in every way. Great man, and my condolences to his wonderful family”.

While the condolences from legends and his fans are endless, now let's remember his inspiring journey, which made him a name to remember.

Chuck Norris: Journey to Stardom

Born in 1940 to Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma, Norris served in the US Air Force in his teenage years. While stationed in South Korea, he developed an interest in martial arts and began training.

With intense practice and dedication, Norris later earned black belts in Karate, tang soo do, taekwondo, judo, and jiu-jitsu. He was also the founder of his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. Later, he became a martial arts instructor in Hollywood and, in 1968, debuted as an actor in The Wrecking Crew.

Norris's big break in the movies came in The Way of the Dragon when Bruce Lee invited him to play the villain. This movie helped him establish his footing in the industry, and, at the suggestion of his friend Steve McQueen, Norris took acting more seriously.

Apart from acting, Norris promoted fitness, founded martial arts schools, and became an internet legend through “Chuck Norris facts” memes.

So, it's quite apparent why such a large volume of people were heartbroken about his passing.

How would you remember Chuck Norris? Let us know in the comments

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy