Chuck Norris Dies at 86: Revisit His Memorable ‘Confrontation’ With Conan O’Brien

Chuck Norris, action hero of screens big and small, died on Thursday after being hospitalized in Hawaii the same day. He was 86.

The nature of the medical emergency that sent Norris to the hospital was not disclosed, though sources had told TMZ the actor was “in good spirits” while being admitted.

Norris’ family, “with heavy hearts,” confirmed his passing with an Instagram posting, saying “he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.

“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family,” the tribute continued. “He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.”

Norris, who held a black belt in Karate, and was also highly skilled at Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and judo, began his Hollywood career training celebrities in martial arts. He began acting himself with 1968’s The Wrecking Crew and 1972’s The Way of the Dragon (starring Bruce Lee), then went on to star in such films as A Force of One, An Eye for an Eye, Lone Wolf McQuade, Missing in Action, and The Delta Force.

His run as TV’s’ Walker, Texas Ranger aka lawman Cordell Walker ran from 1993-2001 on CBS.

Norris’ final film appearance came in 2012’s The Expendables 2.

In the late-night TV space, Norris was a favorite reference of Late Night with Conan O’Brien, where the host—in the wake of NBC’s merger with Universal Television—would now and again pull a “lever” that played a random Walker, Texas Ranger clip. (A notable clip featured a tyke played by a wee Haley Joel Osment saying, “Walker told me I have AIDS.”)

Norris memorably got in on the “Walker Lever” joke in September 2004, when he appeared at the back of the studio to reveal and pull his own lever, which cued up a pre-taped segment in which Norris confronted and comically grappled with O’Brien backstage. (You can watch their “scuffle” below.)

Years later, in a 2021 installment of his Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, O’Brien revealed that he had to retire the “Walker Lever” gimmick, lest it cost his program “millions of dollars.” As he explained, “The actors who were in the clips, they started to recognize that we were showing these clips of them and they started to demand all the money that you needed to pay them in residuals.”