Is Chuck Norris Married?

As the premiere date for the Walker, Texas Ranger reboot grows closer, more people have started to think about Chuck Norris, the man who created Cordell Walker, and wonder what he is up to these days. This has led to some questions about how a seemingly shy man managed to find his way in front of a television camera. Many also wonder about the private celebrity’s personal life and if he’s married.

Who is Chuck Norris?

Chuck Norris didn’t have the greatest childhood. He was the oldest of three boys. According to Biography, Norris at one point described himself as “the shy kid who never excelled at anything in school.” His parents divorced while he was still quite young. After graduating from high school, Norris joined the Air Force. He was trained in security and started studying martial arts while he was stationed in South Korea.

Norris was a natural. He has the distinction of being history’s first Western to officially earn the eighth-degree Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do. Norris probably didn’t realize how much the decision to study martial arts would change his future.

Norris did more than simply study martial arts, he competed all over the world. His competitive career started in 1965 and continued until 1980. He won numerous championships during this period. Most importantly, he proved that anyone, from anywhere in the world, could successfully compete in martial arts. Chuck Norris has the distinction of founding the United Fighting Arts Foundation.

Chuck Norris’s acting career

While Chuck Norris was a martial arts champion, most of us are more aware of his acting career. After leaving the Air Force, Norris earned extra money by working part-time as a martial arts instructor. Some of his pupils included Priscilla Presley and Steve McQueen. He also spent time working with the Osmond family.

Alan Osmond, one of the members of the family band, explained why his family approached Norris on his former website, “[I said,] ‘Chuck, we need to toughen up our dance. Can you help us?'” Osmond continued, saying Norris responded with: “Well let’s learn some karate, and you can apply the moves, ‘cos there are stomps, and hoo, yeah!” Osmond said he appreciated Norris’ boyish energy and felt he was the best fit to work with, according to Digital Spy.

These famous connections likely helped Norris land a role in the 1972 movie, Way of the Dragon. No one imagined that the movie would serve as a springboard for Norris’s acting career. That single movie led to additional offers. Not surprisingly, most of the movies featured a martial arts theme. Eventually, Norris was approached about a surprising project. He was being considered for a television show and the main character would be a socially minded Texas Ranger. Norris accepted the role and developed one of the most iconic characters to come out of the 1990s.

Is Chuck Norris married?

When Walker, Texas Ranger officially ended its impressive run in 2001, Norris appeared to step back from the limelight. Instead of acting, he turned his attention to charity work, which included lending his support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also supported a few different conservative political campaigns.

Chuck Norris has done a good job of keeping his private life out of the tabloids and as a result, not many know much about him. When he was younger, he married Diane Holechek in 1958. The couple had three children before they divorced in 1989. Norris got married for a second time, selecting Gena O’Kelly as his bride. The pair are the proud parents to a set of twins.