While Norris perfected martial arts skills, he worked at the Northrop Corporation, which made jet fighters. As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he also opened a chain of karate schools!
A few famous faces took lessons there including Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Chad McQueen, and, most importantly, Steve McQueen. Despite the star power, Norris would end up having to close some of the schools down.
The Legend Begins
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris was born March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma. His parents named him after their minister Carlos Berry. When Chuck was sixteen, his parents divorced, and he moved from Oklahoma to Kansas and then to California with his mother and 2 younger brothers, Wieland and Aaron.
For someone who would later go on to be such a personality, Norris's early life was, according to him, quite downbeat.
Tough Times in the Norris Household
Surprisingly, Norris was a shy child. He was nonathletic, and his grades were mediocre. Not what you were expecting when it comes to Chuck Norris, right? His father, Ray, was a World War II soldier, a mechanic, a bus driver, and a truck driver.
His family's financial status embarrassed him and lead him to develop a debilitating shyness that would last his entire childhood. That doesn't sound like you're reading about Chuck Norris, the guy who can make onions cry, right?
Joining the Armed Forces
After he graduated high school, Norris signed up for the U.S. Air Force as a member of the military police in the hopes of pursuing a career in law enforcement. While he was in basic training, his fellow airmen gave him the nickname “Chuck,” and it stuck. It really stuck.
He graduated from basic training, married his childhood sweetheart, and was sent to an Arizona air base for a year. Once that period was up, he was sent to Osan Air Base in South Korea, which would turn out to be the best thing possible for him.
His First Love
Shy as he was, Norris had no trouble attracting the ladies, even before he became a man in uniform. Pictures of him from when he was young make it clear why – the guy was handsome.
He met his first wife Dianne Kay Holechek (born in 1941) in 1956 at a high school in Torrance, California. The two got married after Norris finished basic training in December 1958, when Norris was eighteen and Dianne was seventeen.
He Needed More Skills
Norris got to work as a member of the military police in South Korea. While he was on patrol duty, he found himself unable to control a rowdy drunk at a bar, and he realized he needed better hand-to-hand combat skills. He first joined the base judo team but decided it wasn't for him.
Shortly thereafter, he came upon a dojo practicing Tang Soo Do, the Korean art of empty hand fighting. Despite an injured shoulder Norris joined the dojo and started learning. He also applied himself to the classic art of Tae Kwan Do.
Returning to America
Norris was discharged in 1962, at which point he returned to California. Following the end of his military service, he applied to be a police officer. While he was on the waiting list, however, he opened a martial arts studio and started competing in martial arts competitions.
His first two opponents dropped him to the mat. So did his next three opponents. However, after a few years (1967), he had improved enough to score a couple of victories. During this time, he also started creating his own unique style, which he dubbed the “Chun Kuk Do,” or “Universal Way” form.
Champion
Spending his time training, Norris started to rise in the ranks. He first made big news in June of 1967, when he won his first tournament, beating established opponents such as Skipper Mullins. In the same month, he was declared champion at the S. Henry Cho's All-American Karate Championship at Madison Square Garden.
His accolades would only increase from there, including holding the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title for six consecutive years. In all his years of competing in martial arts tournaments, Norris only suffered a total of ten losses, a startling number given that he competed for a long time.
Other Interests
While Norris perfected martial arts skills, he worked at the Northrop Corporation, which made jet fighters. As if that wasn't enough to keep him busy, he also opened a chain of karate schools!
A few famous faces took lessons there including Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Chad McQueen, and, most importantly, Steve McQueen. Despite the star power, Norris would end up having to close some of the schools down.
Switching Lanes
With some of his martial arts studios shutting their doors and the karate world firmly under his thumb (he retired from competition in 1974), Norris was looking for other chances. One of his students and friends, the king of cool Steve McQueen, suggested that Norris try to break into the acting world.
Chuck's acting debut was actually back in 1969, in the Dean Martin film “The Wrecking Crew.” It was the same year he won Karate's triple crown for most tournament wins of the year, and was named Fighter of the Year by “Black Belt” magazine.
An Important Friendship
If you're a fan of martial arts movies (or just any person not living under a rock) you'll probably know the name Bruce Lee. Lee and Norris met in 1968 while the two were competing in the All-American Karate Championship.
Bruce Lee was already an established actor and was currently working in the famous TV series “The Green Hornet,” in which he played Kato. The two developed a friendship, and they also started training and working together. Despite Lee dying 1973, he and Norris would still have the chance to face off in front of the camera.
The First Big Role
1972 saw the release of the critically-acclaimed martial arts movie “Return of the Dragon.” In the movie, Norris played an antagonist and one of Lee's most powerful opponents, though many who are now familiar with Norris noticed something odd – he wasn't moving as fast as normal.
It turns out the producers had asked Norris to gain twenty pounds of muscle to appear physically bigger than Lee in the movie. Norris would later explain that was why he didn't do jump kicks or anything like that – he wasn't used to the extra weight and could get high enough off the ground.
Doing It Their Way
You might think that an intense, climactic battle between two martial arts powerhouses like Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris would be rehearsed and practiced, but you'd be wrong. In fact, their fight in “Return of the Dragon" wasn't even choreographed!
Of course, it wasn't a real match either, and they weren't trying to hurt each other, but there were no steps to follow. The two had been training partners for over three years at that point, and they were familiar enough with each other to know what would work. They coordinated the scene right then and there, and the result was martial arts movie history.
Who Would Win....
While the choreography for the fight was done on the fly, that doesn't mean that there was no work put into it. In fact, almost a quarter of the film's screenplay was devoted to details about the fight, including beats for the actors to hit.
It took forty-five hours for the scene to be shot, and it was time well spent – it's still regarded as the best action scene in any movie, ever. While Norris is no doubt a powerful warrior, he said that any clean fight would see Lee as the victor every time.
Picking Up Steam
It was at about this point that Norris's friend Steve McQueen told him that it would be a good idea to attend some acting classes at MGM studios. He had a few more roles under his belt by that time but was looking to get better.
That same year, 1974, he played the main antagonist in Lo Wei's film “Yellow Faced Tiger.” The movie wasn't shown in the states until the 80s, where it could better take advantage of Norris's fame.
Consider Yourself Lucky, Pal
We can't say this loudly enough: Do not stick your fingers into Chuck Norris's mouth. He won't appreciate it. However, one person actually did just that, and Norris would later thank him for it.
He was Norris's acting coach, Jonathan Harris, and he did it to stretch Norris's mouth as wide as possible while encouraging Norris to speak. It helped Norris to enunciate clearly, which is a critically important thing to be able to do if you want to have any success as an actor in Hollywood.
Putting His Words to Paper
In 1975, Norris penned his first book, and it was about something that he knew better than most: fighting competitions. The book was called “Winning Tournament Karate,” and it was a practical study of competition training.
It covered a number of areas including executing speedy attacks, conditioning for fights, fighting form drills, and one-step sparring techniques. Norris would go on to write a number of other books on a variety of subjects once he had become more famous.
His First Starring Role
Despite having a number of offers to star in martial arts movies, Chuck Norris ended up being rather discerning when it came to which projects he picked. He's quoted as saying he was most interested in films that focused on story and characters because that it would give the action a lot more emotional weight.
His first true starring role was the 1977 film “Breaker! Breaker!” Despite the film's low budget, it turned out to be quite successful, making twelve million dollars on a budget of $250,000. According to Norris, out of all the films he did, this one was his dad's favorite.
Gaining Acclaim
In 1978, Norris would star in the film “Good Guys Wear Black,” a fully American martial arts film instead of what many called “Bruceploitation” films.
Norris played a leader of a team of CIA commanders, John T. Booker. However, no studio wanted to release it, so Norris and his producers did something called “four-walling.” It basically means to rent movie theaters directly and show the film, pocketing all of the money from the ticket sales while the theater keeps the money from the rental as well as concessions. The tactic was far more common in the seventies and eighties.
A True Action Star
With his first big film a hit, Norris was off and running. His next film, in 1979, was “A Force of One,” in which he played Matt Logan, a world karate champion who assisted police with investigations.
Norris had developed the film while “Good Guys Wear Black” was touring, but just like that film, no studio wanted to pick it up. Norris and his team went back to four-walling the movie just like the previous one, and it did even better, racking up more than twenty million at the box office. Studios started taking notice!
His Resume Grows
Now as an established star, studios had little choice but to pick up Norris's films. In 1980, Norris starred in “The Octagon,” where his character had to stop a group of terrorists that had ninja training.
Studios jumped on it, and American Cinema Releasing distributed it after a bidding war. It made almost nineteen million dollars at the box office. In 1981, he starred in Steve Carver's “An Eye for an Eye,” and in 1982 he was in the action horror film “Silent Rage.” It was the first of his films released by a major studio, Columbia Pictures.
The Biggest Hit Yet
After the release of “Silent Rage,” MGM stepped up to the line and signed Norris to a three-movie deal. That same year, they released “Forced Vengeance,” but Norris was unhappy with the direction they wanted him to go, and the contract was canceled.
In 1983, he made “Lone Wolf McQuade” with Orion Pictures. Norris played a reckless and brave Texas Ranger, and the film was a worldwide hit, earning plenty at the box office and garnering quite a positive reception from movie critics. That same year had Norris publish a book of exercises called “Toughen Up! The Chuck Norris Fitness System.”
A Multimedia Star
Now that he was a big name in the movie business, the next step for Norris was obvious: video games. He wasn't going to be making them himself, but it wasn't long before he or one of his characters was the face of a video game.
1983 saw the release of the game “Chuck Norris Superkicks” for the Commodore 64, Commodore VIC-20, Atari 2600, and Colecovision, developed by Xonox. The game had the player controlling Norris as he moved through a map and fought enemies in order to liberate hostages.
Continued Success
The 80s saw one Chuck Norris film after another make it big at the box office. The first film in a series of POW rescue fantasies was “Missing in Action,” which has him as Colonel James Braddock.
The film was a great success, and Norris immediately became Cannon's biggest star. A prequel to “Missing in Action” came out a year later. In the same year was also “Code of Silence.” Norris would later dedicate these films to his younger brother Wieland, who had passed away in 1970.
The Animated Action Star
Action-oriented cartoon shows such as He-Man or G.I. Joe gained a surge of popularity in the 80s. Why not turn one of the country's biggest action stars into a cartoon version of himself? That's what the creators of “Karate Kommandos” thought when they pitched the idea to Norris.
He lends his voice to a leader of a the Karate Kommandos, an animated version of himself. Marvel even adapted the show into a comic book version. Sadly the show only lasted six episodes. Seems like even Norris's star power can't do everything.
Parts of His Code
Norris created the Chun Kuck Do style of martial arts, which includes a number of tenets for practitioners. One of them is that the system encourages students to develop themselves to their maximum potential and never let self-pity bury them. Another is to always look for the good in other people.
One other bit is that if you don't have something good to say about someone else, don't say anything. His system would later be renamed the Chuck Norris System in 2015.
Learning the Norris Way
The Chun Kuk Do system was formally founded in 1990, but Norris had been practicing and teaching it informally for decades. It was designed to be well-rounded, taking elements from Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Judo, to name just a few.
It emphasized self-defense, competition, weapons, grappling, and fitness, among other things. The majority of the system's forms are adapted from Tang Soo Do and Taekwando, with a few others having smaller elements. Each summer, the United Fighting Arts Federation holds a training conference and a championship for the style in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Additional Lessons
The system of Chun Kuk Do uses a number of lessons from Norris's personal belief philosophy. These include working to forget the mistakes of the past and work toward greater achievements, being enthusiastic about the success of others as much as your own, and maintaining an attitude of open-mindedness.
In addition, it pushes for respect for authority, loyalty to religion, country, family, and friends. It promotes remaining goal-oriented throughout life, believing that kind of positive attitude helps one's self, friends, country, and family. Finally, it has specific lessons about family, specifically about developing love, happiness, and loyalty within it.
Too Many Black Belts, Not Enough Hips
Not only did Norris create and (presumably) master his own system of martial arts, but he's also had plenty of other successes in a number of other systems. He has black belts in Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Tang Soo Do.
People can't actually register their body parts as deadly weapons, but if somebody could, it would be Chuck Norris. He was even the first westerner to be given the rank of 8th-degree black belt grandmaster in Taekwondo.
More Success in the Eighties
From “Delta Force” on Valentine's Day in 1986 to “Hero and the Terror” in 1988, the late eighties had one hit after another for the action star. His film “Braddock: Missing in Action III” premiered, which was directed by his younger brother Aaron Norris.
Chuck also published the New York Times Best Seller “The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story,” which details his self-improvement philosophy. Despite the eighties being the best decade on record for Norris, it wasn't without its problems. The majority of these come from his failing marriage to his longtime wife Dianne.
Not Exactly Wedded Bliss
While the Norris marriage had gone for quite a while, it was always a little rocky. Chuck actually had an extra-marital affair with a woman named Joana in 1962 that led to a daughter named Dina. While Norris and his wife did have two children together (both sons, Mike and Eric), their relationship didn't last.
They separated in 1988, while Norris was filming “Delta Force 2.” A year later, the two would officially divorce. Apparently, both of their sons made steps to try and keep their parents together, but it wasn't meant to be.
Meeting His Daughter
Almost immediately after he separated from his wife, Norris was contacted by his daughter Dina, from an extramarital affair in 1963. He knew of her existence, having been contacted by Dina and her mother when Dina was sixteen.
Norris and Dina didn't meet in person until 1990, when she was in her mid-twenties. Dina's mother kept everything about her relationship with Norris a secret, knowing it would only be trouble. Dina only found out when she overheard her mother talking about Norris to one of her co-workers. Dina and Norris now have a close relationship.
The Nineties are Here
By the start of the decade of the nineties, Norris's films had grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide. People draw comparisons between him and both his old friend Bruce Lee and his fellow American Clint Eastwood.
Even after all this success, however, it's amazing to think that Norris's most successful project – and a TV show, at that – was yet to come. Drawing on the success of “Lone Wolf McQuade,” Norris began work on “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
Start Walking, Ranger
Developed by Leslie Grief and Paul Haggis, “Walker, Texas Ranger” was inspired by “Lone Wolf McQuade” in that both the film and the TV show featured Norris as a member of the Texas Rangers, an investigative law enforcement agency that has statewide jurisdiction in the state of Texas. The show began airing on CBS in the Spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of a mere three pilot episodes.
Eight full seasons followed, running from September of 1993 to May of 2001. It was broadcast in over a hundred countries, and received a 2005 television film entitled “Trial by Fire.”
A Big Hit
"Walker Texas Ranger" was a huge success, ranking in the top twenty in two different seasons. The show was so successful that it even garnered a spin-off show – though that spin-off, “Sons of Thunder,” ended up going nowhere. Norris was able to cross over into a similar action/martial arts show “Martial Law,” which starred Sammo Hung.
Hung's character, Sammo Law, also made guest appearances on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” even though “Martial Law” was only on the air for two seasons. Several years after “Walker Texas Ranger" came to an end, the show got a reboot titled just “Walker” with Texas native Jared Padalecki in the starring role.
Plenty to Do
When he wasn't working on his television show, Norris was still showing up in plenty of films. That's not all, however – he was also in the wrestling ring. During a 1994 World Wrestling Federation event, Norris made an appearance in the "casket match" between The Undertaker and Yokozuna.
He also wrote another book: “The Secret Power Within Zen Solutions to Real Problems.” Since 1997, he's also appeared alongside supermodel Christie Brinkley in a long-running series of infomercials promoting Total Gym home fitness equipment.
Back to the Movies
In November of 1998, CBS premiered the Michael Preece television film “Logan's War: Bound By Honor,” starring Norris and Eddie Cibrian. It was ranked third among the thirteen most viewed shows of the week. Though sadly not a sequel to “Logan's Run,” the movie has Norris and Cibrian fighting against a group of mafia thugs that killed Cibrian's family.
Norris was Cibrian's uncle in the movie. In the early 2000s, Norris starred as a member of the secret service in two television films titled “The President's Man” and “The President's Man: A Line in the Sand.”
Another Shot at Love
In 1997, Norris had been divorced from his first wife for almost ten years. He'd been working on “Walker, Texas Ranger” for a while, and took a small role on a TV show that, we swear, we can't find anywhere.
Another person who was working on the show was model Gena O'Kelly, and you can probably see where this is going. The two had an attraction to each other, despite Gena being more than twenty years Chuck's junior. He invited her to spend some time with him at his ranch in Texas, and things were pretty much set at that point.
A Second Family
Chuck and Gena married in November of 1998, and three years later they welcomed twins Dakota Alan Norris and Danilee Kelly Norris, making Chuck a father five times over. Gena also had a few children from a previous marriage.
Ever since then, the two have been inseparable through thick and thin. And unfortunately, things haven't always been easy – but when has Chuck Norris ever backed down from a challenge? However, marrying Gena would end up being something that would force Chuck's hand in several ways much later down the road. For the first twenty years at least, this couple had some smooth sailing.
Doing the Right Thing
At the start of the 1990s, Norris turned part of his focus toward philanthropy. He established both the United Fighting Arts Federation and Kickstart Kids.
A significant part of his philanthropic contributions was focused on helping kids to build self-esteem, with a heavier focus on at-risk children in order to keep them away from peer pressure by training them in martial arts. Norris hoped that by shifting middle school and high school children's focus towards more positive outlets, they would have better opportunities and a better future. Norris has also started a ranch in Navasota, Texas, which includes the CForce Bottling Company.
CForce Water
The Navasota Ranch includes a state-of-the-art facility that is also one of Texas's biggest private bottling companies. It takes up over fifty-three thousand square feet and was launched by Norris and his family in 2015. The company provides full-service production. That means bottles are filled, capped, and packaged for shipment, all in one place.
The idea for the business came in 2011, after a mild drought. An aquifer was hit during a dig for wells. The water that gushed out had to be redirected to the Navasota River. A hydrogeologist discovered that it would take maybe hundreds of years to drain the water.
More Ways to Give Back
The money that CForce water makes is often redirected to Kickstart Kids and Norris's other philanthropic efforts, such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, and the United Way.
Norris contributes both in the form of donations and with fund-raising activities. While it's unknown at this time how many wishes Chuck Norris has granted, you can be sure that he's been a popular name. According to the famous Chuck Norris facts, even stars make wishes when he falls...it's just too bad he doesn't fall that often.
Efforts to Help Soldiers
Due to his family's time in various parts of the armed forces, Norris has always been one to help veterans and provide for soldiers – especially since his younger brother Wieland fell in the line of duty in 1970.
He became a spokesperson for the U.S. Veterans Administration. His objective has long been to bring attention to the issues that concern hospitalized war veterans, including pensions and health care. His significant contributions and continued support earned him the “Veteran of the Year” award in 2001 and the “American Veteran Awards.”
Overseas Projects
There are also several projects that Norris has started, or that he supports, in India. He supports the Vijay Amritraj Foundation, which has the aim of bringing hope, help, and healing to the defenseless and innocent victims of disease, tragedy, and circumstance.
Vijay Amritraj was a professional tennis player who retired in 1993 and was also the recipient of India's fourth highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri, in 1983.
The New Millennium
Now something of a legend, Norris had his pick of projects and fun stuff to do. In 2003, he played a role in the supernatural film “Bells of Innocence,” and also acted in one episode of the TV show “Yes, Dear.”
In 2004 he published his autobiography “Against All Odds: My Story,” and also appeared in the raunchy sports comedy movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” by Rawson Marshall Thurber, in which he plays a judge during a dodgeball game.
No Idea What He Was Getting in To
While Norris is often quite good-humored about poking fun at himself, he didn't feel like being part of “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” at first.
This was mostly because he didn't want to drive all the way to where the movie was being shot. However, star Ben Stiller called to ask him personally, and Norris eventually agreed. He did not, however, read the script. He showed up, shot his scene (giving a thumbs-up to the competitors), and went home. He didn't really understand what was going on in the film until he caught it in theaters like the rest of us.
Jeans for the Modern Action Star
It should come as no surprise that Chuck Norris lent his name or face to a few products. By far the most famous of these productions is “Chuck Norris Action Jeans,” which were purported to let anybody deliver high-flying kicks without discomfort.
Guys, you know what we're talking about. They were made by the martial-arts equipment company Century, and were first called “Karate Jeans.” The big draw was a piece of flexible fabric sewn into the crotch. According to the advertisements, they were developed by Chuck himself to help him show off his karate moves in his films.
Far and Wide
Norris has given his name to plenty of other odd products here and there over the years, too. Aside from the aforementioned Total Body Gym alongside Christie Brinkley, Chuck also shilled for Czechoslovakia T-mobile ads.
There's also an official Chuck Norris Flexmark Booklight for reading in the dark, an official book of Chuck Norris “facts” that the internet made so popular, and a toy line from the short-lived “Karate Kommandos” animated show. It's a Corvette with blades that are popping out of as many places as can hide them. We expect nothing less from Chuck.
Turned into the Real Deal
While the dust-ups Norris got into on “Walker, Texas Ranger” were all TV magic, he became a real member of the Texas Rangers in 2010. It turns out that it was the first show shot on location in Texas, at Norris's insistence, and governor Rick Perry was willing to repay the favor.
Not only had the choice brought in plenty of attention and money, but it had also raised awareness for the elite law enforcement group. In addition, Norris's work helping underprivileged youths with his martial arts programs made him a true star in the eyes of many.
A Good Chuck-le
Chuck Norris had been a star for a long time, but in 2005 something changed. Satirical "facts" about Chuck, created by Ian Spector, started appearing online and became widespread in popular culture. The "facts" were silly, absurd, incredibly hyperbolic, and really, really funny.
They included “Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants, ” or “ Chuck Norris has a mug of nails instead of coffee in the morning.” There are long lists of them one simple Google search away, so go ahead and give them a read if you want a laugh.
The Chuck Seal of Approval
It should come as no surprise that Norris is fine with these fake facts since they all make him seem like the coolest, toughest guy on the planet. He issued a response saying he wasn't offended and finds plenty of them funny.
He went on to say that his personal favorite is “Chuck Norris's face was going to be on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard.” While the first group to enjoy and spread these jokes were college students, they started to become extremely widespread before too long.
Taking Advantage of a Good Thing
Thanks to the sudden burst in what one might call grassroots popularity, Norris suddenly had a lot more eyes and ears pointed at him. He took advantage by starting a tour of major talk shows, often armed with jokes.
He also took the opportunity to visit troops in Iraq and other overseas locations to raise morale, often telling jokes. From there, his practically mythological status was assured, and it's continued in the same way ever since, with new jokes appearing every year as the world changes.
Packed With Facts
Once the Chuck Norris facts started gaining widespread popularity, Ian Spector started publishing books about the facts. The original was “The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 Facts About the World's Greatest Human,” and it was a “New York Times” best seller.
Numerous additional books about Norris appeared, such as “The Last Stand of Chuck Norris: 400 All New Facts About the Most Terrifying Man in the Universe” and “Chuck Norris Vs. Mr. T: 400 Facts About the Baddest Dudes in the History of Ever.” But not everybody was happy about these books when they first appeared...
Imagine Chuck Norris Suing You
That person was Chuck Norris himself. Norris filed suit against Spector and the publisher, Gotham Books, and Penguin USA, stating “trademark infringement, unjust enrichment, and privacy rights.”
However, Norris would eventually drop the lawsuit in 2008. It's unknown why he decided not to go through with it. He might have figured it was a combo of having an uphill battle and deciding it wasn't worth it. In fairness, these facts are probably the reason he still has a career right now.
More Writing of His Own
At the same time, Norris was branching out into more writing of his own – this time, fiction. In 2006, he published the novel “The Justice Riders,” which had no fewer than three co-writers: Ken Abraham, Tim Grayem, and brother Aaron Norris.
It was an action western set in the 1970s, featuring dangerous outlaws, heroes, and plenty more good stuff. While it was never a best seller, it still has its fans. In 2008, Norris and the same writing team released a sequel called “A Threat to Justice."
Playing as Chuck Norris
Thanks to the popularity of the Chuck Norris facts, a few small video game developers leaped at the chance to create something that took advantage of the current flavor. The first was in 2008: Gameloft produced “Chuck Norris: Bring on the Pain” for mobile devices, which lets players take control of Norris in a side-scrolling beat 'em up, which was well received.
Similarly well received was “Non-Stop Chuck Norris,” by Flaregames in 2017, which is, of all things, an isometric action RPG. Seems a bit of an odd choice, but we could certainly see it working. Just be sure to max out his kicking skill tree.
The Video Game Action Star
While Chuck Norris has been the star of a few video games of his own, he's also been the pitchman for one quite famous video game in particular. If you're in this sphere of entertainment, you've probably heard of the most famous MMORPG of them all, “World of Warcraft.”
The ads had him creating his own character. It was, just like the man himself, way overpowered, so much that none of the game presented much of a challenge. The advertisement debuted in 2011 for the game's seventh anniversary, and Norris joined a number of other celebrities, such as Mr. T, Ozzy Osbourne, and William Shatner.
A True Fact
One of the famous Chuck Norris “facts” is he was bitten by a poisonous snake, and after three agonizing days, the snake died. Incredibly, this one actually has a little bit of truth behind it.
One scene for “Walker, Texas Ranger” called for Walker to grab a rattlesnake off the ground and count its rattles, for some reason. The first take went fine, but during the second take, the snake sunk its fangs into Norris's hand. The director freaked out and Norris was rushed to the hospital, only for them to discover there was no venom in his system.
Sitting in the Producer's Chair
When you think about Chuck Norris, you're thinking about a martial arts master, an action star, and a rough-and-tumble guy. You probably aren't thinking about an executive producer, but he's tried his hand at this role as well.
He's appeared in over thirty films and plenty of TV shows, but there's only one project where he hasn't appeared in front of the camera. It was the movie “Birdie & Bogey,” and he was an executive producer. It may be a case of nepotism, but it stars Chuck's son Mike in one of his few movie appearances.
Not Even Google is Strong Enough
Once upon a time, Google had lots of funny little jokes to display if you typed in the right things. Since this was the same time Chuck Norris jokes were all the rage, there was a clear intersection.
If you typed “Where's Chuck Norris” and hit the “I'm feeling lucky” button, you'd find out that not even a Google search is ready for that kind of confrontation. It will tell you things like “Google will not search for Chuck Norris – because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris, he finds you!”
He'll Go When He's Good and Ready
Another common joke that has become a regular internet occurrence is for social media accounts to “announce” that Chuck Norris has died, only for them to announce that no, nevermind, he isn't dead after all, usually saying something like death can't keep Chuck Norris for very long.
Not even death can beat Chuck Norris, it seems. One day, when all of his earthly work is finished, but not just yet.
Get Drunk on Chuck
It should come as no surprise that Chuck Norris has an alcoholic drink named after him – even if there's a joke about nothing being able to make him drunk. The drink called the Chuck Norris is pretty simple to whip up if you have the right supplies.
Just mix UV Cherry Vodka with some Liquid Ice energy drink. It's a popular concoction in Grand Forks, North Dakota, especially in college bars like Sledster's. Alternate versions of the drink include a dash of tabasco sauce for an extra Norris kick.
Run Chuck Run!
May fourth, 2049 was a special day in Texas. It was the first-ever CForce Chuck Norris 5k, and it came with a few special rules if you wanted to sign up. Unlike other races, which will have people dress up in running shorts and racing tees, this 5k race made it so people have to dress up as the actor himself.
It doesn't matter which era, you just had to look like Chuck. Denim vests and cowboy boots were a popular choice, though probably not very fun to run in.
Chuck Norris vs Communism
Maybe one of the strangest facts about Chuck Norris is that he was the featured actor in a Romanian-British documentary that came out in 2015. It was called “Chuck Norris vs Communism,” and it was released in January.
At seventy-eight minutes long, it documented the story of the strict Romanian media during the Cold War, and how banned Chuck Norris movies – of all things – became a ray of hope for people hoping to find a way out from under the thumb of Communism. Watching people get kicked in the face has always set our hearts pounding for freedom, we don't know about you.
Behind Bars
2017 was a weird year for Chuck Norris, especially since he was jailed for assault. You'd think that anyone getting into a fight with Chuck would know better, but it was actually Norris who was at fault, and the victim was his nephew.
Chuck pleaded guilty to the charges, spending a week in jail. He stated that he had not meant to harm the boy, and was only trying to scare him into behaving. Norris was also sentenced to community service and was told to attend a substance abuse program. Not your average Chuck fact.
Lots of Advertisements
Norris has put his name on a number of products, but there are also plenty of products he's been in ads for, even if they were just silly TV spots.
He became an ambassador for the car brand Fiat in 2017, starred in a commercial for the Belgian beer Hoegaarden in 2016, and in 2015 he became a fixture of French television by appearing in commercials for the television show “Pieds Dans le Plat'' (which seems to mean “feet in the dish”). In 2020, Norris starred in an ad for QuickTrip's Snackle food line, which has him shooting hot dogs from a cannon into a crowd.
Native Ancestry
One of the interesting tidbits you might know about his most famous character, Walker, is that Walker is part Cherokee. That fact is lifted straight from Chuck Norris, who has stated on numerous occasions that he has Cherokee roots.
In the show, however, Walker was born to a Cherokee father and an Irish mother and was intensely proud of both sides of his heritage. The real Norris, however, just has a smattering of Native American in his blood (and it's unsure which side it comes from), though he is clearly plenty Irish.
The Facts are Lining Up
There are a number of other facts from Cordell Walker that come right from Chuck Norris's life or are at least pretty similar. Both joined the U.S. Military, Walker learned martial arts overseas, and so did his actor. Walker eventually kept practicing and became a martial arts master.
The producers must have figured Norris's real backstory was cool enough that they didn't need to come up with a fake one. The one big difference is basically the entire show – Norris intended to become a police officer or another type of law enforcer, while Walker immediately started on his path to the Texas Rangers.
One Last Hurrah
At the age of seventy-one, Chuck Norris needed a little bit of something to do. It was 2012, and it was time for Norris to go out with a bang. His final movie role to date would be that of Booker in “Expendables 2.” It's the same name as his character in “Good Guys Wear Black,” and he's also referred to as a lone wolf, referencing “Lone Wolf McQuade.”
The character even quotes one of the Chuck Norris facts in the movie itself – the one about a snake biting him.
Medical Issues
In 2013, Norris and Gena O'Kelly had been married for almost fifteen years, and Gena was getting up there. Like the rest of us, she was having a little pain and went in to get an MRI scan for rheumatoid arthritis.
She was issued a contrast agent that ended up being unsafe, triggering debilitating symptoms in her body. Two scans later, Gena was apparently filled with incredible pain that she likened to “extreme burning.”
Not Believed
However, if you're imagining Norris busting down the door to the hospital and throwing punches...well, don't stop, that sounds great, but it's not what happened. Gena woke him in the middle of the night, saying there was something horribly wrong with her, and they rushed to the hospital.
Incredibly, the doctors told Gena that she was perfectly healthy – they didn't even see the need to put her on an IV drip or prescribe pain medication, so the pain continued. In fact, according to Gena, it was spreading. The family continued trying to see doctors, but nothing seemed to work even when they would get seen.
Worsening Effects
As the chronic, painful burning continued, more effects started to appear. Gena reported difficulty articulating, memory issues, shrunken muscles, and hypermetabolism to the point that she was shaking and experiencing unending tremors.
Norris was able to find an integrative doctor in Reno, Nevada, that finally helped to reduce the effects that Gena was feeling, directly targeting the cause of her condition. However, plenty of damage had been done, and Gena was a wreck. There was only one thing for Norris to do.
A Fight in the Courts
Chuck and Gena allege that the entire situation was caused by a substance called gadolinium, which is used in about thirty-three percent of MRI scans worldwide. The Food and Drug Administration says that the substance is not harmful, and is safe to use in MRI procedures, but the Norisses clearly aren't convinced, and it's hard to blame them after what Gena went through.
Even though things had improved for Gena, she still had to deal with the effects of the symptoms – not to mention the original problem, rheumatoid arthritis.
Stepping Away from a Career
While Chuck Norris hadn't been famous for much more than goofy internet facts for several years at this point, he decided to all but retire in order to not only get some answers and reparations for the things that happened to his wife, but he also wanted to be there to take care of her, since she was now quite ill and weak.
He also ended up suing eleven different companies that produce and distribute gadolinium. He's written a long essay outlining his reasoning, and his desire to prevent what happened to his wife from happening to anyone else.
An Understanding of Privilege
Chuck Norris was fully aware that his spot in the public eye, as well as his bank account, made dealing with these medical and legal issues much easier for him than it is for anyone else. Hospital stays are expensive and finding the right doctors is even more so, but millions aren't as fortunate.
Norris's lawsuits brought up a lot of controversies, but one thing is for certain – he isn't about to let his wife's safety and well-being fall by the wayside.
Flipping the Script
For most of his life, Norris was unyielding. A man who took on challenges and came out the other side a better, stronger person. He served in the military, owned businesses, and trained until he was at the peak of his performance. He took responsibility for his mistakes, and never stopped trying to make up for them.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that he would jump in so quickly to use all his tenacity to care for the most important person in his life. Despite his life as a macho man, he also has an intense, thoughtful, loving side to him.
The Man Behind the Meme
A lot of people can assume something about a person from their appearance, or from what other people tell them. Chuck is the perfect example. A champion martial artist, an action movie star, a man that is famously tough and powerful.
But it isn't until the chips are really down that a person's true grit comes out. Norris's true grit has clearly been on display for all to see as he stepped away from a life in the spotlight to do something as down-to-earth as taking care of his ailing wife.
Never Offered a Part
A common fan theory that gained traction online was that Chuck Norris was offered the part in the 2010 “Karate Kid” remake. It was the part originally played by Martin Kove, the sensei of the Cobra Kai dojo, John Kreese. The original character was an ex-Special Forces Vietnam veteran who was brutal in his training, but nobody can deny it produced results.
An updated version of the role seems perfect for Norris, and many wonder why he turned it down. He didn't – it was never offered to him.
He Just Really Likes That Letter
If you have a keen eye, you might notice some interesting things about the characters that Chuck Norris has played over the years. Not their gun skills or martial arts abilities. No, this is about their names. Specifically, from 1982 to 1985, Norris starred in four films that had his character's first name start with J.
There was Josh Randall in “Forced Vengeance,” J.J. McQuade in “Lone Wolf McQuade,” and Colonel James Braddock in the film “Missing in Action” and its prequel “Missing in Action 2: The Beginning." Is J the coolest letter? We didn't think so before, but it's possible it is now.
Across-the-Aisle Friendship
Did you know that Chuck and Whoopi Goldberg are good friends despite their political differences? There's a fact we bet you didn't know. Norris even tried to get her a role in the 1985 film “Invasion U.S.A.,” but was unsuccessful in doing so.
Why you may ask? Well, that was the same year Whoopi was working on “The Color Purple,” which made her a huge star. If you have to miss a chance to work with Norris, at least make sure it's for a good reason like Goldberg did.
A Poor Decision
Two criminals once tried to rob Chuck Norris. He assumed they wanted autographs. He smiled as the two men flicked out knives and demanded his wallet. In what we only assume was a flurry of blows and painful screams, Norris broke the men's arms and reduced them to painful puddles on the ground.
Police arrived and had to, we kid you not, save the would-be robbers from Chuck Norris. Their explanation was that they thought it was all TV stuff – they had no idea Norris was actually skilled at martial arts.