Chuck Norris
1940 – 2026

Chuck Norris

American martial artist and action actor (1940–2026)

television actorkaratekataekwondo athletefilm actorfilm producer
Born
1940-03-10, Ryan
Died
2026-03-19
Birthplace state
Oklahoma

Biography

Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma in 1940 and worked as a martial artist, actor, screenwriter, and author. He held black belts in karate, taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and judo, and founded his own discipline called Chun Kuk Do. After serving in the United States Air Force, he won numerous martial arts championships and began working in film as a martial arts instructor before making his screen debut with a minor role in The Wrecking Crew in 1968. Bruce Lee invited him to play a main villain in The Way of the Dragon in 1972, and following encouragement from Steve McQueen, he took the lead role in Breaker! Breaker! in 1977, which was profitable, followed by Good Guys Wear Black in 1978, which became a hit and established him as a popular action film star.

Occupation

Chuck Norris is recorded as a television actor, a karateka, a taekwondo athlete, a film actor, a film producer, a stunt performer, a writer, a screenwriter and a actor, born in Oklahoma (1940–2026).

Connections to Oklahoma

Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma in 1940. Explore other notable figures from Oklahoma, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Oklahoma›Oklahomahistory ›Historic sites in Oklahoma›
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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from Oklahoma

Other historical figures born in Oklahoma, ranked by historical prominence.

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Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones
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Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
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James Garner
James Garner
American film and television actor (1928–2014)
Will Rogers
Will Rogers
American humorist and entertainer (1879–1935)
Sam Walton
Sam Walton
American businessman (1918–1992)
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
American film director, screenwriter and producer (1922-2010)

Frequently asked about Chuck Norris

Who was Chuck Norris?
Chuck Norris was American martial artist and action actor (1940–2026), born in Oklahoma (1940 – 2026).
When and where was Chuck Norris born?
Chuck Norris was born on 1940-03-10 in Ryan.
When did Chuck Norris die?
Chuck died on 2026-03-19.
What was Chuck Norris known for?
Chuck Norris is recorded as a television actor, a karateka, a taekwondo athlete, a film actor, a film producer, a stunt performer, a writer, a screenwriter and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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