Chuck Norris may have just turned 84, but the “Walker, Texas Ranger” star says he feels decades younger. The veteran actor rang in his birthday on Sunday by sharing a video to Instagram of him showcasing his boxing skills.
“Feeling good and staying active! Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes,” Mr. Norris captioned alongside the clip, which received an outpouring of birthday well-wishes from those commenting on the celebratory Instagram post.
“You look like a 48 hitting that bag sir, congrats,” wrote Brazilian mixed martial artist Junior dos Santos.
“He threw 4566 punch’s [sic] on this video but our eyes only let us see a few,” fitness trainer Scott Francis quipped.
Staying Fit in His 80s
Mr. Norris shared his secrets to staying fit during an interview with The Healthy last year. The martial artist legend—who is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, taekwondo, and karate, among others—told the publication he felt “grateful to feel strong, healthy, and energized.”
“I don’t see age as a reason to slow down—if anything, it’s given me an opportunity to renew my commitment to fitness and nutrition,” the then 83-year-old shared. “I make sure to add movement whenever I can each day and fuel my body with nutrients that have helped me feel younger than ever.”
Mr. Norris is a proud father of five children—two of whom he shares with his wife, former model Gena O'Kelley. The couple tied the knot in 1998.
“The Way of the Dragon” star told The Healthy that his family is a key component of his longevity. “For me, my values are freedom, family, fitness, faith, and fight,” he offered.
“Prioritizing fitness and nutrition allows me to be more active with my loved ones, and a healthy body will offer me many happy years with them,” Mr. Norris said. “Exercising with my family is a meaningful experience; my children are just as passionate about martial arts as I am. They are incredibly talented, too.”
“So, engaging with your friends and family in these physical activities is another piece of my ‘wisdom’ for longevity,” he added. “I’ve always said, ‘A family that trains together stays together.’”
“Martial arts, of course, is a key part of my routine, helping me keep in shape both physically and mentally,” he added.
The Making of a Legend
Mr. Norris—whose real name is Carlos Ray Norris—was born in small-town Ryan, Oklahoma on March 10, 1940. He lived there for most of his childhood until moving to Torrance, California, when he was 12.After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following his military service, he became a full-time martial arts instructor, even teaching notable figures like actress Priscilla Presley and actor Steve McQueen—the latter of whom encouraged Mr. Norris to get into acting.
It appears as though Mr. Norris took “The Great Escape” star’s advice because the martial artist went on to land a minor role in the 1968 comedy-action flick, “The Wrecking Crew.” Four years later, he began his rise to fame by starring opposite Bruce Lee in the martial arts action film “The Way of the Dragon.”
Mr. Norris went on to star in films like “Good Guys Wear Black” (1978), “Lone Wolf McQuade” (1983), and “Code of Silence” (1985), which swiftly led him to become a household name. He went on to garner one of his most iconic roles in 1993, portraying the titular character Ranger Cordell Walker in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which he helmed until the show’s close in 2001.
More recently, the actor starred in a 2020 episode of “Hawaii Five-O.” In 2012, he played the role of Booker in “The Expendables 2,” which featured an ensemble cast led by Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In January, Mr. Norris took to Instagram to tease his upcoming film, a military action and sci-fi flick called “Agent Recon.”
