Action star Chuck Norris died on Thursday, March 19 at 86 from an undisclosed illness after being hospitalized earlier in the week, his family announced on Friday.
“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. 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,” the family said in a statement.
Along with films and TV shows, that work included countless advertisements that leveraged is unique American martial artist identity, including several for automobiles.
The latest was the 2018 “Tough as Chuck” commercial for the Toyota Tacoma. It featured him signing a fan’s Tacoma, which gave it his action hero powers.
A decade earlier, Norris did a commercial for the Tacoma’s rival, the Honda Ridgeline, that depicted him walking into a fancy restaurant looking like he’d just finished a Delta Force mission to the tagline “Tough Meets Classy.”
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Norris was born in Oklahoma and served in the U.S. Air Force before becoming an instructor of his own martial art discipline and winning the 1967 American Karate Championship. He later became friends with Bruce Lee, which led to an actig career that included appearances in dozens of movies and TV shows, including the iconic “Missing in Action” film franchise and “Walker: Texas Ranger” series.
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