Chuck Norris, action hero and star of 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' dies at 86

Chuck Norris, the square-jawed martial artist and Hollywood action hero who became a symbol of rugged American masculinity as star of the CBS series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and later as a popular internet meme, died Thursday, his family said

Chuck Norris, the square-jawed martial artist and Hollywood action hero who became a symbol of rugged American masculinity as star of the CBS series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and later as a popular internet meme, died Thursday, his family said.

He was 86.

“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” Norris’ family said in a post on Instagram on Friday. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon."Concord Productions Inc. / Golden Harvest Company/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images file“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,” Norris’ family added.

He was best known for his nine-season run as Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker, a steely-eyed former Marine who dispensed Lone Star justice with roundhouse kicks and a decidedly old-school moral code. The series remains a staple of syndicated television.