©Courtesy of MGM Entertainment/ The Delta Force.

Chuck Norris has passed away aged 86. Norris had to be hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday. Norris had died later that morning as revealed by his family.

“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” Norris’ family wrote on Instagram. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”

Norris’ family also went on to praise the beloved action actor. “To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family,” the caption reads.

“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.” After thanking everyone for their prayers and support, the Norris family wrote, “As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time.”

Norris, who had been encouraged by Steve McQueen to pursue his acting career, provided him with private karate lessons for several years. In “Lone Wolf McQuade“(1983), Norris played a Texas Ranger who had to face off against an arms merchant/martial arts master (David Carradine).

Norris joined the Cannon Group, which was run by producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, and became a significant financial contributor to the mini-studio. In Missing in Action (1984), he portrayed Col. James Braddock, a former POW who returns to Vietnam to rescue captured soldiers, despite being criticised. It was loved by audiences and resulted in a 1985 prequel and 1988 sequel.

Norris was not like the others who boasted about their fighting prowess. He had black belts in martial arts, including karate, Tang Soo Do, and taekwondo, and was a person who trained with Bruce Lee and fought him in “The Way of the Dragon“.

Norris then continued his hot streak with “Code of Silence” (1985), “Invasion U.S.A.” (1985), “Firewalker” (1986) and “The Delta Force” (1986), which also led to a follow-up in 1990.

“Walker, Texas Ranger“, created by Al Ruddy, Leslie Greif, Paul Haggis and Christopher Canaan at Cannon Television, debuted in April 1993 and ran for nine seasons and about 200 episodes, plus a 2005 telefilm.