It’s with great sorrow that I announce the passing of Carlos Ray ‘Chuck’ Norris (10 March 1940 – 19 March 2026), who died at the ripe old age of 86 in Hawaii, after being hospitalised there this month and being a fan my whole life, from cinema in Egypt to VHS in Kuwait when I was growing up in the 1980s. That covered everything from creepy horror movies like Silent Rage (1982), and over-the-top action flicks like Invasion U.S.A. (1985).

By Emad Aysha
One way or another, he found a way to utilise his martial arts skills in the narrative. This is a man who proved that white dudes could do more than just jump; they could also go toe-to-toe with the legend that was Bruce Lee.

Lee was practically his mentor and role-model. The stand-off between the two in The Way of the Dragon (1972) is mirrored in the great martial-arts scene between Neo and Morpheus in The Matrix (1999), especially the moment when Neo jumps up and down like he’s just warming up. Not to mention the contrasting black-and-white outfits, along with the racial contrast.

Norris’ career wound down over the years, as is inevitable, but his TV series, indie movies, and books kept his name in the news and proved that he was more than just an action star. I won’t say that he was a great actor, in the Shakespearean sense, but he could surprise us – and I’d wager him – in the more serious roles he partook of.

We’ve reviewed one of them here, in Good Guys Wear Black (1978). No clichés, no macho speak, and only chest hair where it’s called for. The man portrayed a sensitive, haunted individual who, nonetheless, was brave enough to face the ghost of the past.

For me, that’s always the image I’m going to recollect of Norris. Not just as a hero with all the answers, but as a man unafraid to ask questions – of himself and his country. A thoughtful action hero who consistently did what was right, inspiring us all, young and old.

Norris was the quintessential man’s man, inspiring fans to aspire to qualities like faith, charm, charisma, and discipline. What a loss for the world, especially in these trying times.

Goodbye, my friend; there’ll never be another man like you. On or off the silver screen!