On March 20, 2026, the world was shocked to learn that martial arts legend Chuck Norris had passed away at the age of 86. The news shared by his family revealed that the Missing in Action star had passed a day prior in Hawai’i. The news reverberated around the world, where Norris had made his name with a consistent output of exhilarating action movies that made him quite recognizable. But for all his prowess on the big screen, Norris was best known for playing Cordell Walker in the 1993 hit series, Walker, Texas Ranger.
The death of a celebrity like Norris usually comes as a shock to many fans who had appreciated his work. This leads to a resurgence of their most popular projects, as seen recently with the tragic passing of Eric Dane, James Van Der Beek, and Catherine O’Hara. Streaming data from FlixPatrol shows that viewers are remembering Norris by revisiting his work, particularly Walker, Texas Ranger. The series is the most popular on the Apple TV Store, slowly rising through the chart since his death was revealed. Walker, Texas Ranger is the most-watched series on the PVOD platform in the US and the UK, with Canada and Australia also appearing on the chart.
The countries above might not fully capture the scope of Norris’ fame because Walker, Texas Ranger was not made in the era of streaming. However, it was syndicated in many countries thanks to its straightforward, digestible moral storytelling, which made it accessible to audiences of all ages everywhere. Topped off by high-octane action and satisfying conclusions to the weekly cases, Walker, Texas Ranger was one of the easiest exports from American television. The series was rebooted in 2021, with Jared Padalecki taking over the role. The reboot ended in 2024 after four seasons.
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What Was Chuck Norris’ Cause of Death?
The family did not reveal the cause of Norris’ death. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” they communicated in a statement. “He lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.”
After Walker, Texas Ranger, Norris’s career slowed as he became more involved in politics. The actor made several appearances in movies and TV shows, with his last credited role being in the 2026 action comedy Zombie Plane. Norris left a huge, robust legacy in martial arts that shone throughout all 196 episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger.
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- Release Date
- 1993 – 2001-00-00
- Directors
- Michael Preece, Tony Mordente, Jerry Jameson, Christian I. Nyby II, Alexander Singer, Michael Vejar, Andrew Stevens, Chuck Bowman, James Darren, Karl Kases, Lee H. Katzin, Vern Gillum
- Writers
- Rob Wright, Luciano Comici, Allan Cole, Babs Greyhosky, J. Larry Carroll, J. Michael Straczynski, Larry Brody, Lawrence Hertzog, Leonard Katzman, Charles Holland, Steven L. Sears
