Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris is an American martial artist, film producer, actor, and screenwriter. He was born on March 10, 1940. First, he served in the United States Air Force. After that, he won many martial arts championships and also founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. Besides, Chuck is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Tang Soo Do, and Judo. Norris wanted to try acting, so he took a minor role in the spy film The Wrecking Crew (1969). Then, his friend Bruce Lee invited him to play the villain in Way of the Dragon (1972). He was good at it, so he took acting seriously. He appeared in the action film Breaker! Breaker! (1977) and also the lead in Good Guys Wear Black (1978).
Chuck’s early life
Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma on March 10, 1940. His father, Ray Dee Norris, was a mechanic, truck driver, and a bus driver. He was also a World War II Army soldier. He has Cherokee and Irish roots. Norris has two younger brothers, Wieland and Aaron (who is a Hollywood producer). When he was sixteen years old, his parents divorced, so he moved to Prairie Village, Kanzas, with his mother and brothers. Later, they moved to Torrance, California. He didn’t enjoy his childhood since he was shy and nonathletic. His father was also an alcoholic, and he was embarrassed by his behavior.
Chuck’s career
Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman (AP) in 1958, and he was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea. There he acquired the nickname, Chuck. At that time, he began his training in Tang Soo Do (tangsudo). After he was discharged from the U. S. Air Force in August 1962, he applied to be a police officer in Torrance, California. At the same time, he opened a martial arts studio. Chuck started participating in martial arts competitions.
Internet fame
In 2000, he became the executive producer for the television film The President’s Man. That is an action film starring Dylan Neal, Marla Adams, Ralph Waite, Soon-Tek Oh, and Stuart Whitman. Then, in 2002, they made a sequel Eric Norris’ The President’s Man: A Line in the Sand. In 2004, Norris made an appearance in the Rawson Marshall Thurber’s comedy DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story. There he played himself. In 2010, he appeared in advertisements for communications company T-Mobile in the Czech Republic. Then, in 2011, he did an ad for the video game World of Warcraft. After that, in 2012, he appeared in commercials for the Polish bank BZ WBK.
In 2016, he appeared in a commercial for the beer Hoegaarden in 2017 in the advertisement for United Healthcare, and also in early January 2024, he starred in a QuikTrip commercial.
Chuck Norris’ net worth
Chuck’s estimated net worth is around $70 million. Most of it comes from working in action movies, but Chuck has also written several books which have added to his fortune. He was chosen New York Times best-selling author twice.
