- Born
- Birth nameCarlos Ray Norris
- Nickname
- Ground Chuck
- Height5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
- Chuck Norris is familiar to fans worldwide as the star of action films
such as The Hitman (1991),
The Delta Force (1986) and
Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990).
He also starred in
Missing in Action (1984) and
its sequels, Firewalker (1986) and
Sidekicks (1992). He was an executive
producer of
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
as well as the star.
Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, to Wilma (Scarberry) and Ray
Norris, who was a truck driver, mechanic, and bus driver. The eldest of
three children, he helped his mother raise his two younger brothers in
Torrance, CA, where his family moved when he was 12. Norris attended
North Torrance High School from its inception in September, 1955 until
his graduation in June, 1958. He is one of several storied alumni from
the school. Other NHS alumni include Bob Hite (1943-1981), who was the
lead singer of "Canned Heat," Chris Demaria, who was a professional
baseball player in the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers
organizations, Chris Mortensen, an analyst with ESPN, Hip-Hop DJ
"Key-Kool" (Kikuo Nishi), and Wee-Man (Jason Acuna) of "JackAss fame."
Norris joined the Air Force after graduating from high school. During a
stint in Korea, he began to study the Asian martial art of Tang Soo Do.
After returning home, he worked for Northrop Aviation and moonlighted
as a karate instructor. Two years later he was teaching full-time and
running a number of martial-arts schools. His students included
Steve McQueen,
Priscilla Presley and the Osmonds.
Norris's fight career lasted from 1964-1974. Norris started off by
losing his first three tournaments but, by 1966, he was almost
unbeatable. Among the numerous titles he won were The National Karate
Championships (1966), All-Star Championships (1966), World Middleweight
Karate Championship (1967), All-American Karate Championship (1967),
Internationals (1968), World Professional Middleweight Karate
Championship (defeating Louis Delgado on 24 November 1968),
All-American Championship (1968), National Tournament of Champions
(1968), American Tang Soo Championship, and the North American Karate
Championship. Norris compiled a fight record of 65-5 with wins over
champions Joe Lewis, Skipper Mullins, Arnold Urquidez,
Ronald L. Marchini, Victor Moore,
Louis Delgado, and Steve Sanders. Of the five men to beat Norris, three
were Allen Steen, Joe Lewis, and Norris's last career defeat to Louis
Delgado in 1968. Norris retired as undefeated Professional Full-Contact
Middleweight Champion in 1974.
Norris, who was urged to get into acting by his friend
Steve McQueen, skillfully
incorporates his martial-arts knowledge into his series and feature
film projects, stressing action and technique over violence. He is the
author of the books "The Secret of Inner Strength" and "The Secret
Power Within - Zen Solutions to Real Problems". He works for many
charities, including the Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, the United Way, Make-a-Wish
Foundation and KickStart, a nonprofit organization he created to help
battle drugs and violence in schools. He also starred in the television
movie Blood In, Blood Out (1993),
broadcast on CBS.
He lives on a ranch when not filming.- IMDb Mini Biography By: DANIEL and angelsunchained and Randall Parker, MBA
- SpousesGena O'Kelly(November 28, 1998 - present) (2 children)Dianne Holechek(December 29, 1958 - 1989) (divorced, 2 children)
- ChildrenDakota Alan Norris
- ParentsRay NorrisWilma Scarberry
- RelativesWieland Clyde Norris(Sibling)Aaron Norris(Sibling)Hannah Norris(Grandchild)Max Norris(Grandchild)Greta Norris(Grandchild)Camrynn Norris(Grandchild)Chloe Norris(Grandchild)Chantz Norris(Grandchild)Cash Norris(Grandchild)Gabby Di Ciolli(Grandchild)Dante Di Ciolli(Grandchild)Tyler Norris(Niece or Nephew)Meagan Norris(Niece or Nephew)Amanda Norris(Niece or Nephew)Max Carlos Norris(Grandchild)
- Usually plays heroes who are good guys to the bone, and despite having punishing martial arts skills, would always rather find a better solution than fighting.
- His beard
- Red hair
- Action movies
- Uses taekwondo in his fight scenes
- Is only one of three Americans to achieve eighth-degree black belt
status in tae-kwon-do. - Out of all the Chuck Norris facts, his personal favorite is 'Before the Boogie Man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.'.
- Often trained with Bruce Lee.
- Reader's Digest once noted a story of how Norris, true to his
characters, prefers to find a non-violent way to solve a situation.
Norris was in a bar once when a customer walked in and said to him,
"You're in my seat. Move." Norris complied, and as the customer sat
down, he recognized Norris. He then said, "Chuck, you could've kicked
my butt if you wanted to. Instead of moving, why didn't you just attack
me?" Norris' response: "What would that have accomplished?" Norris
later said the experience resulted in him getting a new admirer and a
new friend. - A website known as "Chuck Norris Facts" has been created as a parody of
his career, containing hundreds of absurdly creative statements about his intellect, strength, virility and image, such as 'Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane by pointing at it and yelling "Bang!".' Chuck is not offended by the website, in fact, has said he feels honored to have a website named after him and says he laughs when he reads the facts. He even used one fact in The Expendables 2 (2012): 'Chuck Norris was once bitten by a cobra. After five days of agonizing pain, the cobra finally died.'.
- Whatever luck I had, I made. I was never a natural athlete, but I paid
my dues in sweat and concentration and took the time necessary to learn
karate and become world champion. - It's the bullies who are afraid, are the ones that do all the
fighting. It's not the secure kids that get out there and fight. It's
the insecure kids. And when you develop that security in these
youngsters and all of a sudden they have no reason to fight . . . This is
to me the most gratifying thing I've ever been able to do. - Today, more than ever, the inspiration for the parts I play is found
in you - our nation's men and women in uniform and the selfless
contributions you make on a daily basis to keep our country safe and
free. I salute you. - I haven't always been warmly welcomed for holding my conservative
positions in Hollywood. Then again, I've never been very good at being
politically correct either, on or off screen. So why start now? - For too many years I was in rebellion to God. Now I'm a rebel with a
cause for God and for grassroots America. I no longer fit the mold. I'm
not a liberal actor from Hollywood. I'm not politically correct, in my
opinions or my practice. And though I'm concerned with what people
think, I will not compromise the truth in any form to cater to others,
even with religion and politics. Those who would merely brand me on the
Right are oversimplifying and running from the real issue.
- An Eye for an Eye (1981) - $250,000
- A Force of One (1979) - $125,000
- Good Guys Wear Black (1978) - $40,000
- Breaker! Breaker! (1977) - $5,000
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