Chuck Norris

Other NHS alumni include Bob Hite (1943-1981), who was the lead singer of "Canned Heat," Chris Demaria, who was a professional baseball player in the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers organizations, Chris Mortensen, an analyst with ESPN, Hip-Hop DJ "Key-Kool" (Kikuo Nishi), and Wee-Man (Jason Acuna) of "JackAss fame. "Norris joined the Air Force after graduating from high school. During a stint in Korea, he began to study the Asian martial art of Tang Soo Do. After returning home, he worked for Northrop Aviation and moonlighted as a karate instructor. Two years later he was teaching full-time and running a number of martial-arts schools. His students included Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley and the Osmonds.

Attended Hamilton Junior High School in Houston, Texas in the early 1950s before moving to Torrance, California.

Norris attended North Torrance High School from its inception in September, 1955 until his graduation in June, 1958. He is one of several storied alumni from the school.

Norris's fight career lasted from 1964-1974.

His voice and drama coach was Jonathan Harris, of Lost in Space (1965) fame. Harris "taught him how to speak," by putting his fingers in Norris's mouth, and stretching the mouth wide open. Chuck names Jonathan as the only man in the world who could get away with doing that to him... which Harris was always proud of.

Norris started off by losing his first three tournaments but, by 1966, he was almost unbeatable.

Among the numerous titles he won were The National Karate Championships (1966), All-Star Championships (1966), World Middleweight Karate Championship (1967), All-American Karate Championship (1967), Internationals (1968), World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship (defeating Louis Delgado on 24 November 1968), All-American Championship (1968), National Tournament of Champions (1968), American Tang Soo Championship, and the North American Karate Championship. Norris compiled a fight record of 65-5 with wins over champions Joe Lewis, Skipper Mullins, Arnold Urquidez, Ronald L. Marchini, Victor Moore, Louis Delgado, and Steve Sanders.

Of the five men to beat Norris, three were Allen Steen, Joe Lewis, and Norris's last career defeat to Louis Delgado in 1968.

Norris retired as undefeated Professional Full-Contact Middleweight Champion in 1974. Norris, who was urged to get into acting by his friend Steve McQueen, skillfully incorporates his martial-arts knowledge into his series and feature film projects, stressing action and technique over violence. He is the author of the books "The Secret of Inner Strength" and "The Secret Power Within - Zen Solutions to Real Problems". He works for many charities, including the Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, the United Way, Make-a-Wish Foundation and KickStart, a nonprofit organization he created to help battle drugs and violence in schools.

Was offered the role of Steiner in Game of Death (1978), but turned it down.

In the movies where he's a police officer, Norris usually prefers to work alone (i.e. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), Code Of Silence (1985) and Top Dog (1995)).

He also starred in Missing in Action (1984) and its sequels, Firewalker (1986) and Sidekicks (1992).

Despite their vast political differences, he is friends with actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg. He was so impressed with a performance of hers that he tried, unsuccessfully, to get her a role in his film Invasion U.S.A. (1985).

1988: Campaigned for George Bush in the US presidential election.

Chuck Norris is familiar to fans worldwide as the star of action films such as The Hitman (1991), The Delta Force (1986) and Delta Force 2 (1990).

He was an executive producer of Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as well as the star. Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, to Wilma (Scarberry) and Ray Norris, who was a truck driver, mechanic, and bus driver. The eldest of three children, he helped his mother raise his two younger brothers in Torrance, CA, where his family moved when he was 12.

Was the initial choice for the character of Red Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show (1998), but was still filming Walker, Texas Ranger (1993), so he had to turn it down.

Father of Mike Norris and Eric Norris, the latter of whom is a professional stock car driver. Their mother is Diane Holechek. Chuck also has a daughter named Dianna DeCioli (Dina). Dina was born in 1964, due to an extramarital affair when he was stationed in California in the US Air Force. More recently, on August 30, 2001, Chuck and Gena O'Kelly (his second wife) welcomed twins Dakota Alan Norris (boy) and Danilee Kelly Norris (girl).

Was a guest star on The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular (2003) honoring Bob Barker's 80th birthday. Other celebrity guests included Céline Dion, Ray Romano, Charlie Sheen and Larry King.

2004: Actively supported George W. Bush's US Presidential re-election campaign.

Participated on the TV show The Contender (2005) with fellow action superstar Sylvester Stallone.

It is commonly believed that he was offered the role of "Sensei Jon Kreese" in the original The Karate Kid (1984). He reportedly turned it down, claiming he did not want his name connected with such a brutal and vicious character. This is, in fact, an urban legend; Norris himself has disputed it. While appearing on the February 9, 2006 episode of the radio show hosted by Adam Carolla, Norris stated that he was never offered the role at all.

Publicly condemned The Golden Compass (2007) as anti-Christian.

Publicly endorsed Mike Huckabee as his choice for Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election.

He has a 10th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and also an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do...that is, the Korean (or traditional) styles of each.

12/12/01: Received "Veteran of the Year 2001" honor at the 6th Annual American Veteran Awards.