Chuck Norris, the roundhouse-kicking action star

Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood tough guy most famous for his role in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" television series, has died, his family said Friday.

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CHUCK NORRIS

He was 86.Norris died Thursday morning, the family said on Instagram, after media reports that he had been hospitalized for an undisclosed condition while on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, several days after he celebrated his 86th birthday with a video of him boxing on social media and saying "I don't age. I level up."

"To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength," the statement read. "To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family."

The family said it wanted to keep the details of Norris's passing private, adding that "please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace."

Tributes quickly began pouring in. "All of Texas mourns the passing of Chuck Norris. He was not only a martial arts champion, action icon, and the one and only Walker, Texas Ranger," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

"My heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be forgotten," said fellow action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Norris could be outspoken about his conservative political views, and President Donald Trump hailed him as a "great supporter."