Sylvester Stallone, Stephen King and Dolph Lundgren are among those paying tribute to “Walker, Texas, Ranger” star Chuck Norris, who died on Friday at 86.
Norris starred in the Stallone-directed action film “The Expendables 2” in 2012 after an absence from the screen of seven years.
Stallone posted on Instagram and wrote, “I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family.”
Lundgren, who also starred in the film, took to Instagram and said, “Chuck Norris is the champ. 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. We will miss you, my friend.”
The martial artist turned action icon also became famous in the digital era with online memes and jokes. Author Stephen King took to X to share a series of posts honoring that humor. King wrote, “My fave Chuck Norris joke: Chuck doesn’t flush the toilet, he scares the shit out of it.” In another he posted, “When he was born, Chuck Norris drove his mother home from the hospital.” And finally he wrote, “Seriously, I thought he was great. SILENT RAGE scared hell out of my boys…and me.”
Actor Lorenzo Lamas who trained at Norris’ martial arts studio shared a tribute, “My prayers to Gina, Aaron and family. Watch out evil world, there is an angel of consequence at the gates. Chuck Norris doesn’t just get wings, he gets even.”
Not only did Norris appear opposite the legendary Bruce Lee in 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon” (aka “Return of the Dragon”), he was also a genuine martial arts champion who was a black belt in judo, 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 5th degree black belt in Karate, 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do.
Norris was extremely prolific in the late 1970s and ’80s, starring in “The Delta Force” and “Missing in Action” films, “Good Guys Wear Black” (1978), “The Octagon” (1980), “Lone Wolf McQuade” (1983), “Code of Silence” (1985) and “Firewalker” (1986).
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