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Chuck Norris, a former martial arts champion and 1980s action-film hero, has died at the age of 86, according to his family.
In a statement posted to Instagram on Friday, his family described Norris’s death as sudden.
Fellow action movie stars have paid tribute to Chuck Norris.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the Norris family wrote.
“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
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According to the publication Variety, Norris had been hospitalised in Hawaii since Thursday, though details were not disclosed.
Norris was the six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion from 1968 to 1974. But he rose to wider fame in a series of action films, including 1985’s Code of Silence, 1984’s Missing in Action and 1986’s The Delta Force.
He further cemented his status as a household name when he starred from 1993 to 2001 in the popular TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, playing a principled lawman.
Norris’s tough-guy image made him an internet meme in his later years, though he received pushback for his far-right political views and embrace of conspiracy theories.
His family expressed gratitude to fans for their prayers during his hospitalisation.
“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,” the post read. “Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.”
“We knew each other from my early days, and I always
respected the man he was,” Jean-Claude Van Damme wrote on Instagram.
The Belgian found fame as a martial arts actor similar to Norris in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Chuck Norris is the champ,” Dolph Lundgren wrote on Instagram.
“Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model.
“Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man.”
Action star Sylvester Stallone, who starred in and co-wrote the 2012 film The Expendables 2, has also paid tribute to Norris.
“I had a great time working with Chuck,” he said on Instagram.
“He was All American in every way.
“Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family.”
The actors all appeared together in the action movie, which is about a former marine turned mercenary.
Chuck Norris worked and formed friendships with high-profile political figures in the United States, and internationally.
Among those he grew to know well were former US President George HW Bush Sr, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Norris “will be remembered not only for his many talents, but for the warmth and friendship he extended to those who knew him,” the George and Barbara Bush Foundation says in an Instagram post.
Warner Bros. Discovery said that Paramount has raised the price of its takeover offer to $31 per share, potentially setting the stage for a fresh bidding war with Netflix over the future of the Hollywood giant.
Paramount’s offer had previously stood at $30 per share since December — when the Skydance owned company launched its hostile bid to challenge a deal Warner struck with Netflix to sell its studio and streaming business for $27.75 per share.
A Warner Bros. Discovery buyout would reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape — bringing HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and, depending on who wins the Netflix v. Paramount tug-of-war, potentially even CNN under a new roof.
Unlike Netflix, Paramount wants to acquire Warner Bros. in its entirety — including networks like CNN and Discovery. The companies have spent the last couple of months in a heated, public back and forth over who has a stronger deal. And Paramount upping its offer only adds to the pressure.
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Beyond the new $31 per share price, Warner said Tuesday afternoon that Paramount had increased its regulatory termination fee to $7 billion. Paramount also agreed to move up a previously-promised “ticking fee.” The company previously said it would pay 25 cents per share for every quarter the deal drags on past the end of the year. Now it’s agreed to pay that amount if the deal doesn’t go through by the end of September, Warner said.
A Netflix spokesperson declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press Tuesday afternoon. Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for further comment — but the company confirmed the submission of its revised offer earlier in the day.
Warner’s board has repeatedly backed its deal with Netflix, and on Tuesday maintained that their agreement still stands. But if it later deems Paramount’s offer to be the better deal, Netflix would then have four days to match or revise its proposal. It could also choose to walk away.
Lawmakers and entertainment trade groups have sounded the alarm about the prospect of both deals — warning that a buyout of all or parts of Warner’s business would only further consolidate power in an industry already run by just a few major players. Critics say that could result in job losses, less diversity in filmmaking and potentially more headaches for consumers who are facing rising costs of streaming subscriptions as is.
Combined, that raises tremendous antitrust concerns — and a Warner sale could come down to who gets the regulatory green light. The U.S. Department of Justice has already initiated reviews, and other countries are expected to do so.
Both Paramount and Netflix have argued that their proposals are good for consumers and the wider industry. And the companies have taken aim at each other publicly with regulatory arguments.
Paramount has pointed to Netflix’s much larger market value. And it’s argued that if the streaming giant acquires Warner, it would only give it more dominance in the subscription video on demand space. But Netflix is trying to convince regulators that it’s up against broader video libraries, particularly Google’s YouTube. Netflix has also said that since it doesn’t currently have the same studios and film distribution that Warner does, it would preserve and grow those operations — whereas a Warner-Paramount merger would combine two of Hollywood’s last five major studios, as well as theatrical channels and news networks.
Politics could also come into play. President Donald Trump previously made unprecedented suggestions about his involvement in seeing a deal through, before walking back those statements and maintaining that regulatory approval will be up to the Justice Department.
