Chuck Norris passed away on Thursday at the age of 86 on Hawaiian island of Kauai, with his death triggering an outpouring of responses from across the entertainment industry and sports world
(Image: ESPN First Take)
ESPN broke from its usual First Take lineup to share the somber news of cultural icon Chuck Norris’ passing.
The martial arts legend, action movie star, and beloved internet figure died Thursday on Hawaii’s island of Kauai, his family announced via social media on Friday. He was 86. The announcement sparked an immediate wave of tributes from fans worldwide on social media, including sports commentator Pat McAfee. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also honored the Ryan, Oklahoma native with an unplanned on-air tribute during First Take.
The moment came just days after ABC interrupted its schedule for other breaking news. Reflecting on the loss, the ESPN commentator said: “Just my condolences to his family and the loved ones.
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“When we think about mixed martial arts, we think about it today because of the UFC. We got to remember where it emanates from. The true warriors in the profession, in the sport.”, reports the Mirror US.
Already an established martial arts champion, Norris achieved global fame in 1972 following his legendary fight scene with Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon.
“We had two people that we leaned on, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee. That was it,” Smith said. “And seeing them in the movies together was absolutely sensational and it was great … to see Chuck Norris.
“The only thing you can say negatively about him is that he wasn’t Bruce Lee when it came to martial arts in a lot of people’s eyes, because Bruce Lee was the creme de la creme. But Chuck Norris was absolutely positively special.”
Chuck Norris died on Friday after a brief illness(Image: Sean Gardner, NASCAR via Getty Images)
Norris used his memorable performance alongside Lee as a springboard for an extensive action film career, starring in 1980s action flicks like Lone Wolf McQuade, Missing in Action, Code of Silence, and The Delta Force.
He later achieved television fame playing Sergeant Cordell Walker in the action crime drama Walker, Texas Ranger for nine seasons.
“When you talk about a heightened awareness and a heightened interest in martial arts in America … a lot of people deferred to the popularity and the notoriety of Chuck Norris, and what he brought to that specialty,” Smith added.
Smith believes that Norris played a significant role in sparking the growing popularity of MMA in the United States.
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“On a day like today where the UFC is so huge, so big – and we see mixed martial arts and it’s constantly bantered about and talked about – people forget that in the 70s and the 80s it wasn’t about all of that. It was about Chuck Norris,” he said.
“He did a lot more than people realize, so it’s sad that he’s gone at the age of 86. But we’re all grateful for the time that he gave us during his time on earth.
“He seemed to be a really, really good guy. He had some good shows that he acted in, but more importantly than anything else, when you thought about martial arts, you thought about Chuck Norris if you were here in the United States of America.”