Carlos Ray Norris, better known as Chuck Norris, is a martial artist (inducted into Black Belt Hall of Fame, 1968), who served the U.S. Air Force as an Air Policeman (AP) from 1958 to 1962. He is also an is actor, screenwriter and film producer by profession. Born in Ryan, Oklahoma, U.S. on March 10, 1940, he is best popular for his satirical internet meme known as “Chuck Norris Facts”, which came to limelight around late 2005.

They were basically a collection of satirical factoids based on unreliable information and creating an Internet phenomenon like never before. Becoming culturally popular, the facts were actually illogical hyperbolic claims about Norris’ attitude, masculinity, toughness, virility and sophistication. In a short span of time, the set of facts spread around the world, in translated and localized versions.

Perhaps inspired by the American comedian Conan O’Brien, fact like the following examples really became famous: “Chuck Norris has never won an Academy Award for acting… because he’s not acting”, or “Chuck Norris can speak French… in Russian”, or “Chuck Norris can divide by zero.”

As an actor, he was considered as the The Cannon Group’s leading star (in the 1980s) and starred in multiple films like “Way of the Dragon” alongside Bruce Lee, “The Wrecking Crew”, “Breaker! Breaker!” and many more. He also acted for television series “Walker, Texas Ranger” from 1993 until 2001. However, Norris dedicated his “Missing in Action films” to his brother Wieland, a private in the 101st Airborne Division, who was killed in Vietnam while on patrol in the guard of Firebase Ripcord.

He was grown as a shy child, facing hardships of life, and then moved to a path of unending success. As an AP, he started his career from South Korea, where he acquired his pet name “Chuck”. When here, he also began his training in “Tang Soo Do” and acquired his black belts. He also founded “Chun Kuk Do”: meaning “The Universal Way”, a Korean-based American hybrid martial art style.

After returning to U.S., he continued as an AP, until he retired in August, 1962. Later, he opened a line of Karate schools, and today, celebrity clients at the schools include Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Steve McQueen, etc. He also holds the prestigious rank of being the “8th Degree Black Belt” grand master in Tae Kwon Do.

Winner of Triple Crown, Norris was also honored by Commandant Gen. James T. Conway on March 28, 2007, as an honorary United States Marine during a dinner at the commandant’s residence in Washington, D.C. Following this, he was also given the title honorary Texas Ranger by Texas Governor Rick Perry, along with his brother, on December 2, 2010.
On November 29, 2007, a book entitled “The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World’s Greatest Human” was released, written by Ian Spector. It was published by Gotham Books, the adult division of Penguin USA, and Norris filed a suit against this book and the author claiming “trademark infringement, unjust enrichment and privacy rights.”

Norris once stated his personal favorite “fact” to be: “people wanted to add Chuck Norris to Mount Rushmore, but the granite was not tough enough for his beard”. Other Top 5 facts released about him are as follows:

“In Scrabble, if you spell the word CHUCKNORRIS, you win… forever.”
“Chuck Norris can tie his shoe while running.”
“Chuck Norris does’nt turn on the lights, he turns off the dark.”
“Chuck Norris does not fight someone, he simply defeats them.”
“Chuck Norris taught dragons how to breath fire.”