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HERESpartanburg.com — Obituaries

Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris

March 10, 1940 — March 19, 2026

Ryan, Oklahoma | Hawaii

Age 86

Life Story

Carlos Ray Norris was born on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, the first of three sons born to Ray Dee Norris and Wilma. Raised in modest circumstances across several towns in Oklahoma and California, he developed a quiet resilience that would define his life. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1958, serving as an air policeman at Osan Air Base in South Korea — a posting that would prove decisive in shaping the man the world would come to know.

It was during his Air Force service in Korea that Norris first encountered the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. He trained obsessively, earning his black belt and returning to the United States with a purpose. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he built one of the most formidable records in American martial arts competition — holding championships in multiple disciplines and establishing himself as a world professional middleweight karate champion. He opened a chain of martial arts schools and counted celebrities among his students, all while honing a philosophy of discipline and character development that would later form the backbone of his humanitarian work.

Norris transitioned to acting in the early 1970s, appearing alongside Bruce Lee in the landmark 1972 film Way of the Dragon, a role that introduced him to international audiences. He went on to headline a string of action films throughout the 1980s, including the Missing in Action series and Code of Silence, becoming one of Hollywood’s premier action stars. His greatest cultural moment arrived with the CBS television series Walker, Texas Ranger, which ran for eight seasons from 1993 to 2001 and earned him a dedicated global following. The show’s portrait of a principled lawman who favored justice over shortcuts resonated across generations and remains in syndication worldwide.

Beyond the screen, Norris devoted decades to the Kickstart Kids Foundation, which he established in 1990 to bring martial arts character education into Texas middle schools. The program has reached hundreds of thousands of at-risk youth, using the discipline and values of martial arts training to reduce delinquency and build self-esteem. He considered Kickstart Kids his most important legacy — more meaningful, he often said, than any film or fight. Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris passed away on March 19, 2026, in Hawaii, at the age of 86, leaving behind a life lived with purpose, humility, and an uncommon devotion to making others stronger.

Survived By

His beloved wife of over 25 years, Gena O’Kelley Norris; twin children Danilee Kelly and Dakota Alan; sons Mike Norris and Eric Norris from a prior marriage; his brother Aaron Norris; several grandchildren; and an enduring community of students, colleagues, and the countless lives touched by Kickstart Kids.

Services

A private family service will be held in Hawaii. A public memorial celebrating Chuck’s life and legacy will be announced at a later date. The family requests privacy during this time of mourning and asks that those wishing to honor his memory consider a contribution to the Kickstart Kids Foundation.

In Lieu of Flowers

The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kickstart Kids Foundation — Chuck’s lifelong mission to empower at-risk youth through martial arts character education. Contributions may be made at kickstartkids.org.

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