Chuck Norris has died aged 86 as his relatives release a heartbreaking statement calling him “the heart of our family” as he leaves behind his children and wife Gena O’Kelley
For decades, Chuck Norris was one of the toughest men on screen – a martial arts champion turned Hollywood star who was best known for playing Cordell “Cord” Walker in the long-running television series Walker.
On Friday, his family shared the news of his “sudden passing” aged 86, describing him as “the heart of our family” who lived with “faith, purpose and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved”. Before Hollywood came calling, he was a decorated martial artist, winning multiple world championships and training celebrities.
His transition into acting saw him star in a string of action films before achieving global fame as Cordell Walker in the long-running TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, which aired from 1993 to 2001 and cemented his place as a household name.
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Yet, he took a huge stepback from his Hollywood fame to support his “soulmate” Gena O’Kelley, 62, a former model he married in 1998. The couple went on to have twins together in 2001, building a life that Chuck would later prioritise above all else.
For years, he continued to work steadily in television and film, as well as maintaining a public profile through endorsements and appearances. But everything changed in 2013, when Gena became seriously ill following routine medical scans.
According to Chuck, she suffered a severe reaction after receiving gadolinium contrast agents – chemicals commonly used in MRI scans. He has publicly stated that she experienced a dramatic decline in health, including burning pain, weakness and long-term complications that required extensive care.
Medical authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration, have acknowledged that gadolinium can be retained in the body in small amounts, but serious adverse reactions are considered rare.
However, Chuck has consistently maintained that the injections caused his wife’s illness, and the couple later filed legal action against several pharmaceutical companies that was dropped in 2020.
Speaking in interviews, he has said he made a conscious decision to walk away from Hollywood to care for her full-time. “My whole life right now is about keeping Gena alive,” he said. “I’ve given up my film career to do it.”
Despite the challenges, Chuck has spoken about his unwavering commitment to his wife, often crediting her with bringing balance and purpose to his life long before her illness.
The actor leaves behind his wife, Gena, and his five children. The couple lived on a ranch in Navasota, near Houston, Texas, where the non-profit he founded in 1990 is also based.
Gena and Chuck shared two kids, fraternal twins Dakota and Danilee, who were born on 2001. Since 2015, Gena has been the CEO of CForce, a water bottling facility she owns with Chuck.
Prior to meeting Gena, Chuck was married to Dianne Kay Holecheck who died last year. The iconic actor died following a medical emergency while on holiday in Hawaii with his family, sharing the death in a post on Instagram on Friday, March, 20.
At the time, they wrote: “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and at peace.”
Chuck’s decline appeared to have been sudden; 24 hours prior to his death, he was reportedly admitted to the hospital on the island of Kauai, where he owns a second home. Just one day earlier, he was seen training on the island, and he had been a “vision of health” before he suddenly died.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source explained: “Chuck worked out and trained almost everyday of his life. He would spar and just be active always, every time someone would talk to him or see him, he’d be coming from or going to a workout, he was definitely up on his fitness leading into his death.”
The insider added that Chuck had “lived a life of always being in tremendous shape both spiritually, mentally and physically.” The family friend also shared how Chuck had always been close with his loved ones, including his second wife and model Gena O’Kelley and their twin son and daughter.
They explained: “He had a tight-knit family and friend base that would talk to him all the time and see him often. The last several weeks he was very healthy and happy, working out and just enjoying life.”
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