Chuck Norris
Biography
Chuck Norris was an American actor, martial artist, and author whose screen career grew out of competitive karate. Born in Ryan, Oklahoma, in 1940, he served in the Air Force, won karate championships, and created his own martial art, Chun Kuk Do. After teaching martial arts to celebrities, he made his screen debut in The Wrecking Crew (1968). Bruce Lee invited him to play a villain in The Way of the Dragon (1972), and Steve McQueen encouraged him to take acting seriously. His first starring role came in Breaker! Breaker! (1977), and the hit Good Guys Wear Black (1978) followed. He then headlined action films such as A Force of One (1979), The Octagon (1980), Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), Missing in Action (1984), Code of Silence (1985), Invasion U.S.A. (1985), and The Delta Force (1986). From 1993 to 2001 he played the title role in Walker, Texas Ranger. The Expendables 2 (2012) was his last major film appearance.
86years old at death
- Born Ryan
- Died KauaŹ»i
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Carlos Ray Norris (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 34
- Career span
- 56 years1968 to 2024
Genres
First and latest
Photos
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First role
Norris began acting around this time, appearing for the first time in The Wrecking Crew, a Matt Helm spy spoof.
Big break
Fellow martial artist and friend Bruce Lee asked Norris to take a main villain role in The Way of the Dragon (1972).
A role that slipped away
Norris turned down offers to make several martial arts films before choosing Breaker! Breaker! (1977) as his first starring role because he wanted a story and action that came at the emotionally right moment.
Big break
Norris's martial arts student Steve McQueen saw his potential and pushed him to take acting classes at MGM in 1974.
A change of course
Norris founded his own martial art, Chun Kuk Do, in 1990, building it on the Tang Soo Do he learned in Korea while serving in the military.
Behind the camera
Norris wrote his first book, Winning Tournament Karate, in 1975, a practical guide to competition training covering attacks, conditioning, form drills and one-step sparring.
Chuck Norris movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Aaron Norris directed eight of these films, Joseph Zito two and Steve Carver two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Billy Drago's page
Soon-Tek Oh's page
Rick Prieto's page
Dean Martin's page
Branscombe Richmond's page
Mako's page
All films by Aaron Norris
Joseph ZitoDirector, 2 films, 1984 to 1985
All films by Joseph Zito
Steve CarverDirector, 2 films, 1981 to 1983
All films by Steve Carver
Also two films together21 more actors
- William SandersonForest Warrior (1996) and Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
- Richard NortonForced Vengeance (1982) and The Octagon (1980)
- Steve JamesHero and the Terror (1988) and The Delta Force (1986)
- Steven WilliamsWalker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005) and Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
- Terry KiserForest Warrior (1996) and An Eye for an Eye (1981)
- George LazenbyTwin Sitters (1994) and Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend (1973)
- Nancy KwanThe Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001) and The Wrecking Crew (1968)
- Bruce LeeThe Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001) and Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend (1973)
- Judson MillsWalker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005) and The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002)
- Professor Toru TanakaMissing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985) and An Eye for an Eye (1981)
- Brian LibbySilent Rage (1982) and The Octagon (1980)
- Ron O'NealHero and the Terror (1988) and A Force of One (1979)
- Brandon LeeThe Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001) and Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend (1973)
- BJ DavisBraddock: Missing in Action III (1988) and Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
- Sharon TateThe Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001) and The Wrecking Crew (1968)
- Joe GuzaldoHero and the Terror (1988) and Code of Silence (1985)
- Jeff GraysThe President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002) and The President's Man (2000)
- Sheree J. WilsonWalker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005) and Hellbound (1994)
- Jennifer TungThe President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002) and The President's Man (2000)
- Jeffrey BannisterLone Wolf McQuade (1983) and An Eye for an Eye (1981)
- Aaron NorrisThe Cutter (2005) and Good Guys Wear Black (1978)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Chuck Norris's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$739 million
23 of the 34 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 34 films: 23 worldwide figure; 4 never in cinemas; 7 figure not found.
- 23Worldwide figure
- 4Never in cinemas
- 7Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 81% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$315M42.6% of the total
- 2$168M22.8% of the total
- 3$23M3.1% of the total
- 4$20M2.8% of the total
- 5$20M2.7% of the total
- 6$19M2.6% of the total
- 7$18M2.5% of the total
- 8$18M2.4% of the total
$138 millionfrom the other 15 films with a worldwide figure, 19% of the total
Awards
Five awards and honors from 1997 to 2001.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2001 | Golden Boot Awards | Won | |
| 1999 | Martial Arts History Museum | Won | |
| 1999 | TV Guide Award | Won | |
| 1997 | BMI Film & TV Awards | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.