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Chuck Norris‘ children are mourning the loss of their dad after his shocking death at 86.
The “Walker, Texas Ranger” star’s 24-year-old son, Dakota Norris, kicked things off with a lengthy tribute on Instagram Friday.
“Dad, it’s hard to find the right words for this, but I’ll do my best,” he captioned several black-and-white shots of them.
“You’ve been the man I looked up to my whole life. Your generosity, your kindness, your courage, your integrity, your strength, your discipline, and your faith in the Lord were just a handful of things I always admired about you.”
Dakota went on to call Chuck “the finest man [he’s] ever known,” applauding him for being a lovable parent.
“I’m so proud to be your son,” he continued. “The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughs we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
After writing that he hopes to “live a life that honors [Chuck] and makes [him] proud,” Dakota concluded his note with, “I love you, Dad. I’ll miss you forever.”
Shortly after, Dakota’s twin sister, Danilee Norris, posted her own long tribute 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 that you are never prepared for,” she began.
Danilee went on to call her “sweet father,” her “protector,” and noted, “as soon as he took me in his arms, I’ve been his little girl. That was something I would always acknowledge even when I was too big to be cradled properly.”
“My dad loved so deeply and cared for every single person in his life with so much tenderness,” she continued. “He may have a warrior exterior, but his heart was so full of love and I’m so grateful that is something he and my mom passed down to me. To say how thankful I am for him being my dad is an understatement.”
Calling Chuck her “safe person,” the 24-year-old swore to “forever carry on his legacy” by showering people “in that compassion that he so frequently showed.”
Addressing her “amazing father,” she thanked him for supporting her “passions.”
“I promise I will always and forever try to make you proud even if you already reminded me every day that it was impossible not to. I love you forever,” she concluded, signing off her post with “love, your little girl.”
Chuck welcomed Dakota and Danilee with his second wife, Gena O’Kelley, whom he married in 1998. He also shared Mike, 63, and Eric, 60, with his first wife, Diane Holecheck.
Chuck learned later in life that he had welcomed a fifth child, Dina, during an extramarital affair.
In 2004, he told “Entertainment Tonight” that he hadn’t known about her existence until she contacted him at 26. She is now 61.
“I was going through my mail at home and I see this letter and I open it up,” he recalled at the time.
“It’s from Dina … and she says, ‘I’m your daughter from a past experience,’ and she said, ‘I found out you were my father when I was 16, but my mother said you were married and we shouldn’t interfere with your family.'”
On Friday, Chuck’s family announced that he had died the previous morning after suffering a medical emergency.
“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.”
His family highlighted that “he lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved” and “inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact” … “through his work, discipline, and kindness.”
“While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him,” the lengthy statement continued in part.
“The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends.”
One day before news of his death broke, TMZ reported he had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The details of the incident were unknown.
However, on March 10, Chuck had celebrated his 86th birthday by taking a boxing class.
English (US)