For decades, martial artist and actor Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris Jr. has carved his way into the hearts of action fans. In addition to his karate career, Norris has starred in a number of successful films as well as the acclaimed TV series Walker, The Texas Ranger. In March 2020, Norris turned 80, and in honor of this, we at decided to share with you some of the most interesting facts from his life and career.
1. Chuck Norris served in the army
Chuck Norris was born on March 10, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma, USA. He was the eldest of three boys and, in his words, a "shy" child. After moving to California, Norris entered Northern Torrance High School. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, where he became a military police officer in hopes of pursuing a career in law enforcement. While serving in South Korea, Norris became involved in martial arts. He studied Tansudo and Taekwondo. Three years later, by the time he left the army, he already had a black belt.
2. Steve McQueen helped Chuck become an actor
In 1963, Norris opened his first karate school, and by 1968 there were already 32 jokes. In the same year, he became the light heavyweight champion of the karate world. Chuck Norris has taught martial arts to several celebrities, including The Osmonds, Priscilla Presley and Steve McQueen. McQueen invited Norris to try his hand at acting. The first relatively serious role was played by him in the film "The Way of the Dragon" with the participation of Bruce Lee.
3. Chuck Norris had to obey the producers to play the opponent of Bruce Lee
Although Norris was not popular until the 1980s, his role as a villain in the 1972 film Path of the Dragon, opposite Bruce Lee, proved to be quite effective. When Lee was looking for an opponent to shoot, he called his friend Chuck Norris. The film's producer insisted that Norris put on 9 kilograms, so that on camera he seemed larger than Bruce Lee. “That's why I don't jump kicks in the movie,” Norris said in 2007. “I couldn't get off the ground!”
4. Chuck Norris founded his martial arts system
With the knowledge he had acquired over the years of training in Tansudo and Taekwondo, Norris developed his own unique martial arts system and philosophy, which he eventually named Chunkukdo. In addition to fighting techniques, the system encourages students to cultivate to their maximum potential and to look for good in other people. In 2015, it was renamed the Chuck Norris System.
5. Chuck Norris was selling jeans
Thanks to his fame in the martial arts world, Norris tried to support sporting goods. In 1982, the martial arts company Century hired Norris as a spokesman for their karate jeans. These jeans had a soft fabric sewn into the crotch, which seemed to allow the wearer to kick freely while looking fashionable. Norris eventually renamed these jeans Action Jeans and promoted them for many years.
6. Chuck Norris had his own animated series
At the height of his popularity in the 1980s, Norris teamed up with the animation company Ruby-Spears to create the animated series Chuck Norris: The Karate Commando. The show features Norris and a team of martial artists battling villains. Despite the fact that 65 episodes were planned, only a few of them were made public. “We only did six of them, and then the CBS woman said, 'This is too cruel,'” Norris told MTV News in 2009.
7. Chuck Norris is a real Texas Ranger
For eight seasons, Norris beat bad guys on the 1990s CBS television series Walker, The Texas Ranger. This was the first primetime show to be filmed entirely in Texas. In 2010, Gov. Rick Perry named Norris an honorary member of the Texas Rangers in recognition of Norris's work in raising awareness of the elite unit. And also for his help to underprivileged young people through martial arts programs. Norris' brother, Aaron Norris, who executive produced the series, was also honored.
