'He left a lasting impact'

Family tribute to martial arts movie star who has died aged 86

- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

FROM a troubled childhood in Oklahoma to global superstardom, Chuck Norris kicked his way into Hollywood history with sheer determination.

The actor didn't just play the hero; for millions of fans he was one.

The square-jawed martial arts champ died on Thursday aged 86. According to reports he suffered a medical emergency on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.

A statement read: "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris.

"To the world, he was a martial artist, actor and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather.

"He inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives."

Invincible

Days earlier, the star had posted clips of himself training and boxing, appearing fighting fit well into his 80s. The myth was that he was invincible, yet behind this lay a far more complex story: one of hardship, discipline, grief and relentless drive.

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, in 1940, he grew up in poverty, the son of an alcoholic father, who would disappear for months at a time, and an Irish mother.

In his 1988 memoir, The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story, Norris opened up about his father's alcoholism and how it affected his childhood and adolescence.

He said: "It wasn't until my dad came home from World War II that he really started to drink. His absences were actually pleasant times.