Chuck Norris, who passed away on March 19 at the age of 86, had been married for more than 27 years to Gena O’Kelley and had 5 children.
Chuck Norris, a martial arts legend and action movie icon, passed away at the age of 86 on March 19, 2026, after a brief hospitalization, leaving behind a legion of fans around the world.
The American actor, widely known for his work in “Walker, Texas Ranger”, a series aired between 1993 and 2001 that became a worldwide success by blending Old West values with modern martial arts, was married twice and had 5 children.
His first marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Dianne Holechek, and lasted 30 years. The couple had two children: Mike, now 63, and Eric, 60.
After the end of his first marriage, Norris met Gena O’Kelley and, in his memoir “Against All Odds” from 2004, the actor described the first time he saw her: “I looked up and saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.”
Norris was known for his deep dedication to Gena; the actor even paused his career in 2012 to care for his wife during a serious health crisis caused by a medical error, which left her severely debilitated.
The actor also had a daughter, Dina, who was born in 1964 from a previous relationship. He only learned of her existence after she reached out to him as an adult at the age of 26, and over time, the two developed a strong bond.
On March 20, a day after the actor’s passing, his family shared a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that our family announces the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” they wrote. “While we wish to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and at peace.”
“For the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. For us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.”
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Images: Instagram reproduction @chucknorris. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
