Chuck Norris’ children are mourning their father’s shocking death at the age of 86.
The “Walker, Texas Ranger” star’s 24-year-old son, Dakota Norris, kicked things off Friday with a lengthy eulogy on Instagram.
“Dad, it’s hard to find the right words for this, but I’ll do my best,” he captioned several black-and-white photos.
“You are someone I have admired all my life. Your generosity, kindness, courage, integrity, strength, discipline, and faith in the Lord are just a few of the things I have always admired about you.”
Dakota went on to call Chuck “the greatest man I’ve ever known” and praised him for being a loving parent.
“I’m so proud to be your son,” he continued. “The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughter we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Dakota wrote, “I want to live a life that honors[Chuck]and makes[him]proud,” before ending the note with, “I love you, Dad. You will be forever missed.”
Shortly after, Dakota’s twin sister, Danilee Norris, posted her own lengthy eulogy on Instagram.
“I don’t think grief is a good enough word to describe the emotions my family and I are going through right now. Losing a parent is something you can never be prepared for,” she began.
DaniLeigh went on to call herself a “loving father” and “protector” and said, “The moment he held me in his arms, I was his little girl. That’s something I always acknowledged, even when I was too big to hold him properly.”
“My father loved so deeply and cared for everyone in his life with such tenderness,” she continued. “He may have the looks of a warrior, but his heart is so full of love and I’m so grateful that that was passed down to me from him and my mom. To say how grateful I am to have him as my father is an understatement.”
The 24-year-old, who called Chuck a “safe person,” vowed to extend the “compassion he so often showed” to others and “carry on his legacy forever.”
She wrote to her “amazing father” thanking him for supporting her “passion.”
“I promise to always and forever try to make you proud, even if you remind me every day that it’s impossible not to. I love you forever,” she concluded, adding, “I love you, your little girl,” ending the post.
Chuck welcomed Dakota and DaniLeigh with his second wife Gina O’Kelly, whom he married in 1998. He also has two children, Mike, 63, and Eric, 60, with his first wife, Diane Holcheck.
Chuck later learns that he welcomed his fifth child, Dina, during their affair.
In 2004, he told “Entertainment Tonight” that he didn’t know about her until she contacted him when she was 26 years old. She is currently 61 years old.
“I was checking the mail at home when this letter caught my eye and I opened it,” he recalled.
“It’s from Dina…and she said, ‘I’m your daughter because of my past experiences.’ And she said, ‘I found out you were the father when I was 16, but my mother said I shouldn’t interfere in the family because you’re married.’
On Friday, Chuck’s family announced that he had suffered a medical emergency and died the previous morning.
“To the world, he was a martial artist, an actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a wonderful brother, and the heart of our family.”
His family emphasized that “he lived his life with faith, purpose, and unwavering dedication to those he loved” and that “through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired and left a lasting impact on millions of people around the world.”
“Our hearts are broken, but we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and the unforgettable moments we were fortunate to share with him,” the lengthy statement continued in part.
“The love and support he received from his fans around the world meant so much to him and our family is so grateful for that. You were more than just fans to him, you were friends.”
The day before news of his death broke, TMZ reported that he had a medical emergency on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and was rushed to the hospital. Details of the incident are unknown.
But on March 10, Chuck was celebrating his 86th birthday by taking a boxing class.
