Chuck Norris entertained millions of television viewers with the hit CBS series, “Walker, Texas Ranger,” defending justice by using martial arts, most memorably with his infamous roundhouse kicks. But Norris has accomplished much in his lifetime, including winning notable karate titles, starring in numerous action movies and creating the Kick-Start Foundation, which teaches martial arts to high-risk children as part of the school curriculum. Norris was born in Ryan, Okla., to a Cherokee father and an Irish mother, according to an online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Born Carlos Ray Norris, Jr., Norris acquired the name “Chuck” while serving in the United States Air Force in South Korea in 1958. Norris received the “Veteran of the Year” award in 2005 for his service.
In 1968 Norris earned the title of World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion and defended the title for six consecutive years. Norris was also inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1968, being awarded “Fighter of the Year,” according to his official Web site, Chucknorris.com.
Norris made his acting debut in 1969 in the Dean Martin movie, “The Wrecking Crew.” His first starring role was in 1977 with “Breaker, Breaker!” and leads in other action movies such as “Missing in Action,” “Delta Force” and “Return of the Dragon” followed.
In 1993 Norris portrayed Texas Ranger Cordell Walker in the popular “Walker, Texas Ranger” series, which ran for eight seasons. Norris revisited this character in 2005 in the CBS Sunday night Movie of the Week, “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire.”
Norris considers his most rewarding accomplishment to be the creation of the Kick-Start Foundation, according to Chucknorris.com. The article states that although its original purpose was to provide a positive means for children to resist drugs, the foundation also focuses on character building.
“That is what we are all about,” Norris stated on his official Web site, “to give every child a chance for a productive life in which they can achieve their goals and dreams.”
Norris is also a best-selling author. “The Secret of Inner Strength,” Norris’ first autobiography released in 1987, became a New York Times Best Seller. Norris released a second autobiography in 2004, entitled “Against All Odds: My Story,” which has also gained popularity, according to Cathy Crochet, general manager at Books-A-Million in Houma.
“There is a definite interest in his books,” Crochet said. “There was a huge book signing in Texas for his second autobiography, and we sent representatives there to help with it.”
Recently, Norris has gained pop culture fame through the glorification of unrealistic claims of his abilities at various Web sites. There are hundreds of outrageous “facts” such as, “Chuck Norris does not actually write books, the words assemble themselves out of fear.”
Grant Gautreaux, manufacturing engineering technology sophomore from Pierre Part, considers himself a Chuck Norris fan although he has no particular reason why.
“I like Chuck Norris because he single-handedly won the Vietnam War,” Gautreaux said, repeating one of the fictitious “facts” from the Internet.
Norris commented at his official Web site that he has kept a sense of humor regarding the parodies.
“I do know that boys will be boys, and I neither take offense nor take these things too seriously,” Norris said.
