Chuck
Norris
Chuck
Norris
Chuck
Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American
martial artist, action star, and Hollywood actor who is most
well known for playing Cordell "Cord" Walker on Walker, Texas
Ranger and for his iconically tough image.
Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, the son
of Wilma (Scarberry), who was eighteen when Norris was born,
and Ray Norris, a truck and bus driver and mechanic. Norris's
paternal grandfather (an immigrant) and maternal grandmother
were Irish, while his paternal grandmother and maternal
grandfather were Cherokee Native Americans.Norris was named
after Carlos Berry, his father's minister. He has two younger
brothers, Weiland (deceased) and Aaron (a Hollywood producer).
When Norris was sixteen, his parents divorced,and he later
relocated to Prairie Village, Kansas and then Torrance,
California with his mother and brothers Norris describes his
childhood as downbeat. He was nonathletic, shy, and
scholastically mediocre. Other children taunted him about his
mixed ethnicity, and Norris daydreamed about beating up his
tormentors. Norris mentioned in his autobiography that his
father had a very serious problem with drinking and "wasn't
there" a lot for him growing up. Norris admitted that he loved
his father but did not like him. However, he professed that he
only felt pity for the man because "that was just how he was,
and he missed so much."
Norris finished high school and soon married
his girlfriend, Diane Holechek. He then joined the United
States Air Force as an Air Policeman in 1958 and was sent to
Osan Air Base, South Korea. It was in South Korea that Norris
acquired the nickname Chuck Norris and began his training in
Tang Soo Do (tangsudo), an interest that would lead to black
belts in that art and the founding of the Chun Kuk Do
("Universal Way") form. He also created the education
associations United Fighting Arts Federation and "KickStart"
(formerly "Kick Drugs Out of America"), a middle school and
high school–based program intended to give at-risk children a
focus point in life through the martial arts. When he returned
to the United States of America, he continued to act as an AP
at March Air Force Base California. Chuck Norris was discharged
in August of 1962. He worked for the Northrop Corporation and
opened a chain of karate schools, which Chad McQueen, Steve
McQueen's son, attended.
Norris' career in tournament karate began on a losing note. He
was defeated in his first two tournaments, dropping decisions
to Joe Lewis and Allan Steen and three matches at the
International Karate Championships to Tony Tulleners. However,
by 1967, Chuck Norris began to demonstrate his skill and scored
victories over the likes of Joe Lewis, Skipper Mullins, Arnold
Urquidez, Victor Moore, Ron Marchini, and Steve Sanders. In
early 1968, Norris suffered the fifth and last loss of his
career, losing an upset decision to Louis Delgado. However, on
November 24, 1968, he avenged his defeat to Delgado and in the
process won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion
(non-contact) title, which he held for six consecutive
years.[7] In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for the most
tournament wins of the year, and the fighter of the year award
by Black Belt Magazine. It was also in 1969 that Norris made
his acting debut in the Dean Martin movie The Wrecking
Crew.
In 1970, his younger brother Weiland was
killed in Vietnam. Chuck Norris later dedicated his Missing in
Action films to his brother's memory. At a martial arts
demonstration in Long Beach, Norris met the soon-to-be famous
martial artist Bruce Lee whom he respects and considers as
superior. In 1972, he acted as Bruce Lee's nemesis in the movie
Way of the Dragon (titled Return of the Dragon in its US
distribution), which is widely credited with launching his way
into stardom. In Asia, he is still known primarily for this
role. In 1974, McQueen encouraged him to begin acting classes
at MGM. Chuck Norris retired with a karate record of 65–5,
having avenged all of his defeats.
Norris' first starring role was 1977's
Breaker! Breaker!, and subsequent films such as The Octagon
(1980), An Eye for an Eye (1981), and Lone Wolf McQuade proved
his increasing box office bankability. In 1984,Chuck Norris
starred in Missing in Action, the first of a series of POW
rescue fantasies produced by Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and
Yoram Globus and released under their Cannon Films banner. Also
in that year, he was offered the part of the sensei of the
Kobra Kai dojo in the movie The Karate Kid, but declined the
part. He reportedly did not want to take part in depicting
martial artists in an unfavorable light. However, Norris
disputes this story.[8] On a February 9, 2006 episode of Adam
Carolla's radio show, Norris said that he was never offered the
role. Norris noted that he was already playing leading roles by
the time The Karate Kid was in production.
Over the next four years, Chuck Norris
became Cannon's most prominent star, appearing in eight films,
including Code of Silence, The Delta Force, and Firewalker, in
which he co-starred with Academy Award winner Louis Gossett,
Jr.. Many of the aforementioned films were produced by Chuck
Norris' brother Aaron, as were several episodes of Walker,
Texas Ranger. In 1986, he was involved in the production of the
Ruby Spears cartoon Karate Kommandos.
It is occasionally cited that Norris made
history in 1997 when he was the first Westerner in the
documented history of Tae Kwon Do to be given the rank of 8th
Degree Black Belt Grand Master.[9] However Chuck Norris himself
appears to have been misled about this as there were at least
two other US Black Belts (Charles 'Chuck' Sereff and Edward
Sell[1][2]) awarded TKD 8th Dan several years previously. On
July 1, 2000 he was presented the Golden Lifetime Achievement
Award by the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.
Walker, Texas Ranger
By the close of the 1980s, Cannon Films had faded from
prominence, and Norris' star appeal seemed to go with it. He
reprised his Delta Force role for MGM, which had acquired the
Cannon library after the latter's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Norris
went on to make several more largely ignored films before
making a transition to television. In 1993, he began shooting
the series Walker, Texas Ranger, which lasted eight years on
CBS and continued in heavy syndication on other channels.
On October 17, 2005, CBS premiered the
Sunday night "Movie of the Week" Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by
Fire. The production was a continuation of the series, and not
scripted to be a reunion movie. Chuck Norris reprised his role
as Cordell "Cord" Walker for the movie. He has stated that
future Walker, Texas Ranger "Movie of the Week" projects are
expected, however, this was severely impaired by CBS'
2006–2007 season decision to no longer regularly schedule
MOWs on Sunday night.
Chuck Norris pinning corporal chevrons on United States Marine
Corps Corporal John Wright during a promotion ceremony at Camp
Taqaddum in the Al Anbar province of Iraq on November 2,
2006.In 1963, his first child with Holechek, a son named Mike,
was born. A daughter, Dina, was born in 1964, and a second son,
Eric, followed in 1965. After 30 years of marriage, Norris and
Holechek divorced in 1988. He married again in 1998, this time
to former model Gena O'Kelley, and she delivered twins in 2001:
Dakota Alan Norris, a boy, and Danilee Kelly Norris, a girl.
Norris has always been a very loving family man; it was noted
in People that his adult sons still hug and kiss him goodbye.
"It's great my boys aren't afraid to show love," Norris said,
"nothing can buy that". Norris's son, Mike, said of his father:
"Dad never had a lot of love growing up, but he has given me
and my brother all that he should have had in multiples". Both
of Norris's sons are married and he has 6 grandchildren
including American actress Gabby Di Ciolli.
Currently, Norris lives in north Dallas and
owns a ranch between Navasota, Texas and Anderson, Texas. He
also has a small residence in Los Angeles for when he does
films or television shows. He works for KickStart, which is
located in Dallas and Houston.
Now an outspoken Christian, Chuck Norris is
the author of several Christian books, such as The Justice
Riders. He has also been in a few TV commercials promoting
Bible study and prayer in public schools, in addition to
efforts to reduce drug use. In 2006, he began penning a column
for the conservative news website WorldNetDaily. In his
columns, he has expressed belief in Biblical creationism,[10]
those who are troubled should turn to Jesus, and is quoted as
saying "true patriots" do not stay clear of discussing religion
and politics.[11]
Chuck Norris serves on the board of
directors of the NCBCPS, an organization promoting the use of
the Bible in public schools, and also speaks on behalf of
organizations advocating prayer in public schools.
Norris anchoring on Fox News Channel Hannity &
Colmes.Norris is a political conservative, often championing
values shared by the Republican Party. Norris has donated over
$32,000 to Republican candidates and organizations since
1988.[12] On January 26, 2007 Norris filled in for Sean Hannity
as a co-host on the popular Fox News Channel debate program
Hannity & Colmes alongside Alan Colmes. On October 22,
2007, Norris announced his endorsement of Arkansas Governor
Mike Huckabee for President.[13] Norris said "I believe the
only one who has all of the characteristics to lead America
forward into the future is ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike
Huckabee."[14]
Chun Kuk Do
Main article: Chun Kuk Do
Chuck Norris in 1976.Norris created the martial art Chun Kuk
Do, which is based primarily on Tang Soo Do and includes
elements from every combat style he knows. Like many other
martial arts Chun Kuk Do includes a code of honor and rules to
live by. These rules are from Chuck Norris' personal code. They
are:
I will develop myself to the maximum of my
potential in all ways.
I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater
achievements.
I will continually work at developing love, happiness and
loyalty in my family.
I will look for the good in all people and make them feel
worthwhile.
If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say
nothing.
I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as
I am about my own.
I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness.
I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate
this respect at all times.
I will always remain loyal to God, my country, family and my
friends.
I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because
that positive attitude helps my family, my country, and
myself.
On September 22, 2004 Norris told
Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart that his daughter Dina, born
in 1964 was the result of an extra-marital affair. He did not
meet her until she was 26 although she learned that he was her
father at the age of 16. She sent him a letter to his home
informing him that she was his daughter, after meeting her he
acknowledged that he knew she was his upon seeing her.
In 2004, Late Night with Conan O'Brien began
a recurring sketch in which O'Brien would pull a Walker Texas
Ranger Lever next to his desk, which would cause a brief,
out-of-context clip from Walker: Texas Ranger to play. This
became one of the more popular segments on O'Brien's show and
led to a guest appearance by Norris himself, who pulled his own
"Conan O'Brien Lever" to play a clip of Norris beating up
O'Brien. This segment has been credited as jump-starting the
Norris craze and leading to enough interest to produce a
Walker, Texas Ranger TV movie.
In late 2005, Chuck Norris became the object
of an internet phenomenon known as Chuck Norris Facts, which
document fictional, often absurdly heroic feats and
characteristics about Norris himself. The phenomenon originally
started in the "Vin Diesel Fact Generator", and Chuck Norris
Facts were created as a byproduct, often using the same facts
featured in the Vin Diesel Fact Generator. In time, Chuck
Norris Facts became wildly popular, even more so than the
original Vin Diesel Fact Generator. Norris has written his own
response to the parody on his website, stating that he does not
feel offended by them, and finds some of them funny.[16] He
made an appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show, Period, where
he commented on 11 of them, with his favorite being: "They once
tried to carve Chuck Norris' face into Mount Rushmore, but the
granite wasn't hard enough for his beard."
In the parody song "The Ultimate Showdown of
Ultimate Destiny" the following cast is assembled to ultimately
defeat Chuck Norris in battle after he defeats Indiana Jones
and kills Batman: "Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Monty
Python and the Holy Grail's Black Knight, Benito Mussolini, The
Blue Meanie, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi the Genie, Robocop, the
Terminator, Captain Kirk, Darth Vader, Lo Pan, Superman, every
single Power Ranger, Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan, Spock,
The Rock, Doc Ock, and Hulk Hogan".[17]
Norris rode out in a convertible on The
Price is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular in 2003 to wish Bob
Barker a happy 80th birthday. He also helped a contestant win
the convertible playing the Lucky $even game. Norris had
instructed Bob Barker in karate for years.
During the March 10, 2006 show of ESPN's
Pardon the Interruption, numerous references were made to
Norris on his birthday, including all of the cut-out heads on
the set, which are usually of current sports stars, being
replaced with Chuck Norris heads. Also, several humorous
comments in reference to Chuck Norris were made by co-host,
Tony Kornheiser, in a similar tone to that featured on the
Chuck Norris Facts website.
Chuck Norris served
as a guest referee at the World Wrestling Federation's
Survivor Series 1994 for the casket match between The
Undertaker and Yokozuna. A similar match took place at
the Royal Rumble 1994 where ten other wrestlers beat down
The Undertaker. Norris was called upon to ensure a
similar situation didn't take place. As guest referee, he
kicked Jeff Jarrett in the stomach.
Norris starred in his own Atari 2600
videogame, Chuck Norris Superkicks.[18] Norris also appears in
Maddox (real name George Ouzounian)'s book: Alphabet of
Manliness under the letter N; where he is described as "the
greatest American ever to live". In the video game magazine
Nintendo Power, Volume 203's Pulse section featured many
references to Chuck Norris. He has since become a regular
reference, along with Mr. T. In Crash of the Titans, there is
an unlockable move called the Norris Roundhouse.
Chuck Norris has a
regular column on WorldNetDaily, sharing his 'musings
about faith, family, freedom, country, loyalty – maybe
even kickboxing.'
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