Category: MMA

Chuck (born Carlos Ray) Norris died yesterday at the age of 86.  No cause of death was given.

Surprisingly, Carlos Ray Norris described himself growing up as a shy, nonathletic and mediocre student.  His parents divorced when Carlos was 16.  His family suffered financially, since his father didn’t always work and had a drinking problem.

When Carlos was 18 he joined the Air Force.  That move changed his life.  Carlos was was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea.  That’s where he folks began calling him Chuck (which stuck) and he started learning the martial arts.

Upon his discharge, Chuck Norris opened a chain of martial arts schools and he began entering martial arts competitions.  Mr. Norris competed from 1968 to 1974 compiling a 183 win, 10 loss, 2 draw record.  Chuck Norris was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion.  He held multiple black belts in serveral different martial arts forms.  It was during this time, that Chuck Norris met Bruce Lee.  They became friends and occassionally trained together.

Mr. Norris’ martial arts schools attracted several celebrities including Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, as well as Donny and Marie Osmond.

Chuck Norris’ first acting  role was in a small part in the Dean Martin film, The Wrecking Crew.  It was his role in Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon (titled Return of the Dragon in the US) that brought Chuck Norris to the attention of Hollywood.  Chuck Norris became a star, headlining  dozens of feature films as well as Walker, Texas Ranger the hit television series that ran for nine seasons and several made-for-tv movies.

Some of the television projects that feature Chuck Norris acting include: Room 222; Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos (5 episodes); Wind in the Wire; Walker, Texas Ranger (196 episodes); Logan’s War: Bound by Honor; Sons of Thunder (4 episodes); Martial Law; The President’s Man; The President’s Man: A Line in the Sand; Walker Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire; The Goldbergs and Hawaii 5-0.

Some feature films that Chuck Norris appeared in include: The Wrecking Crew; The Way of the Dragon; Breaker! Breaker!; Good Guys Wear Black; A Force of One; The Octagon; An Eye for an Eye; Silent Rage; Forced Vengeance; Lone Wolf McQuade; Missing in Action; Missing in Action II: The Beginning; Code of Silence; Invasion USA; The Delta Force; Firewalker; Braddock: Missiing in Action III; Hero and the Terror; Delta Force 2: The Columbian Connection; The Hitman; Sidekicks; Dodgeball: A True Underdog’s Story and The Expendables 2.

I first saw Chuick Norris acting in Way of the Dragon.  What an impression he made!  I was always excited to see each film when Mr. Norris began starring in action movies.  Favorites include A Force of One and The Octagon.  Of course I loved when Chuck Norris showed up in Expendables 2.  Chuck Norris is one of the few actors that I like as much off screen as on.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Chuck Norris’ family, friends and fans.

Ivan Gene Lebell, martial artist, actor, stuntman, professional wrestler, and real life tough guy passed away in his sleep on August 9, 2002, at the age of 89.

Gene Lebell began training in wrestling and judo before the age of ten.  After earning his black belt, Mr. Lebell went to Japan to further his training.  When he returned to the US, he competed in the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships, winning the heavyweight title at the age of 22.  In 1963, Mr. Lebell agreed to fight a boxer who claimed he could beat any martial artist.  Gene Lebell choked him out in the fourth round.  Using his martial arts training it was easy for Gene Lebell to transition into professional wrestling where he often was used as an enforcer during big matches.

Gene Lebell’s reputation as a martial artist brought him to the attention of Hollywood where he got work as both a stuntman and actor.  With over 250 stunt credits and over 150 acting credits on his resume, odds are you’ve seen Gene Lebell on television or feature films.

Television appearances include: The Jack Benny Program; The Munsters; Gomer Pyle; The Man from UNCLE; Mission Impossible; The Green Hornet; Batman; The Wild, Wild West; Mannix; The Rockford Files; Kung Fu; Kojak; The Six Million Dollar Man; Starsky & Hutch; Knight Rider; The Fall Guy; Walker, Texas Ranger; Married with Children; The X FIles; More Wild, Wild West and The Shield.

Feature Films include: Blacula; Walking Tall; Earthquake; The Towering Inferno; The Killer Elite; Rocky;  Every Which Way But Loose; The Jerk; Raging Bull; Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid; City Heat; Remo Williams; Rush Hour; Runaway Train; Rocky IV; Die Hard 2; Marked for Death; The Last Boy Scout; Waterworld; Strange Days and Spider-Man 2.

There’s a famous story that when Gene Lebell was working on a Steven Seagall film, the star said that due to his martial arts training, no one could choke him out.  Mr. Lebell took exception to the statement.  Seagall allowed Gene Lebell’s  to place him in a chokehold to prove his point.  Steven Seagall not only lost consciousness but also control of his bowels.  While Steven Seagall denies this ever happened, there are others who claimed to have been there and seen it happen.

Gene LeBell was a man’s man, a 10th degree Black Belt; and appeared in some of my all-time favorite movies and television shows.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.