Timeline

The key dates in Chuck Norris's life, from Ryan, Oklahoma to the last roundhouse. For the full story behind each entry, see the biography.

• 1940

  March 10: Carlos Ray Norris is born in Ryan, Oklahoma, the first of three sons of Ray and Wilma Norris.

• 1958

  Graduates high school in Torrance, California; marries Dianne Holechek; enlists in the U.S. Air Force and is posted to Osan Air Base, South Korea, where he begins studying Tang Soo Do and picks up the nickname "Chuck."

• 1962

  Discharged from the Air Force. Opens his first karate school in Torrance.

• 1964

  Begins competing in tournament karate.

• 1968

  Wins the Professional Middleweight Karate Championship, which he holds for six years.

• 1969

  Named Black Belt magazine Fighter of the Year; wins the Karate Triple Crown.

• 1970

  His younger brother Wieland is killed in action in Vietnam. Norris later dedicates the Missing in Action films to him.

• 1972

  Fights Bruce Lee in the Colosseum in The Way of the Dragon.

• 1974

  Retires from competition, undefeated as champion.

• 1978

  First starring role, Good Guys Wear Black.

• 1983

  Lone Wolf McQuade, the film that would inspire Walker, Texas Ranger.

• 1984

  Missing in Action launches his Cannon Films run; Code of Silence, Invasion U.S.A. and The Delta Force follow over the next two years.

• 1988

  Publishes his first memoir, The Secret of Inner Strength.

• 1989

  Receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Divorce from Dianne Holechek is finalized.

• 1990

  Founds Kick Drugs Out of America (later KickStart Kids) and formalizes his martial arts system, Chun Kuk Do.

• 1993

  April 21: Walker, Texas Ranger premieres on CBS.

• 1998

  Marries Gena O'Kelley.

• 2001

  May 19: Walker, Texas Ranger ends after eight seasons. Twins Dakota and Danilee are born.

• 2004

  Conan O'Brien introduces the Walker, Texas Ranger lever on Late Night. Norris publishes the memoir Against All Odds.

• 2005

  Chuck Norris facts spread across the internet. Norris launches the World Combat League.

• 2006

  Norris responds publicly to the facts for the first time.

• 2009

  Publishes The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book.

• 2010

  December: named an honorary Texas Ranger by the governor of Texas, alongside his brother Aaron.

• 2012

  Appears in The Expendables 2. Kick Drugs Out of America is renamed KickStart Kids.

• 2026

  March 19: dies at 86 after a sudden medical emergency in Hawaii. His family announces his death on March 20.

This section is written and maintained by the NothingButChuck editorial team. Biographical details are drawn from public reporting and Chuck Norris's own memoirs; we welcome corrections through the contact page. Jokes elsewhere on the site are jokes. This section isn't.