A celebrated martial arts champion who rose to prominence as a star in 1980s action films and later captivated audiences as the upright hero of “Walker, Texas Ranger” on television, Chuck Norris has passed away at the age of 86. While Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone often dominated the top two spots in 1980s action cinema, the bronze position was undeniably held by Norris.
Following the untimely death of Bruce Lee in 1973, which left a significant void for a martial arts movie superstar, Norris, Lee’s friend and colleague, stepped in to partially fill that role. He had already made a memorable early screen appearance battling Lee in “The Way of the Dragon” (1972), showcasing high-kicking combat sequences that the two collaboratively choreographed. Given that both men were highly trained fighters, there was no necessity for stunt doubles or the distracting chaos of quick cuts; their legendary face-offs were filmed using medium and wide shots, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of their martial arts prowess was fully preserved on screen.