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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Chuck Norris - American Hero
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 11-17-2005 03:43 PM
The first half of this post is for Joe "The King" Redifer and the second half is for Will "The skeptic" Kutler to answer his post of almost three years ago,
Glad I woke up. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Biography for Chuck Norris
Birth name
Carlos Ray Norris
Height
5' 10" (1.78 m)
Mini biography
Chuck Norris is an Executive Producer of "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993) as well as the star. Norris is familiar to fans worldwide as the star of action films such as The Hitman (1991/I), The Delta Force (1986) and Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990). He also starred in Missing in Action (1984) and its sequels, Firewalker (1986) and Sidekicks (1992). Norris was born Carlos Ray in Ryan, OK. The eldest of three children, he helped his mother raise his two younger brothers in Torrance, CA, where his family moved when he was 12. Norris joined the Air Force after graduating from high school. During a stint in Korea, he began to study the Asian martial art of Tang Soo Do. After returning home, he worked for Northrop Aviation and moonlighted as a karate instructor. Two years later he was teaching full-time and running a number of martial-arts schools. His students included Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley and the Osmonds. In 1968 he became the Professional World Middleweight Karate Champion, holding the title undefeated until he retired in 1974. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwan Do, both Korean fighting arts, and knows all forms of the martial arts. In 1969 he earned the Triple Crown for the highest number of tournament wins, and was named Fighter of the Year by "Black Belt" magazine. By the time he was 34, Norris had established 32 karate schools and had been a champion for six years. In 1996 he became the first Westerner to be awarded an eighth-degree black belt in Tae Kwan Do. Norris, who was urged to get into acting by his friend McQueen, skillfully incorporates his martial-arts knowledge into his series and feature film projects, stressing action and technique over violence. He is the author of the books "The Secret of Inner Strength" and "The Secret Power Within - Zen Solutions to Real Problems". He works for many charities, including the Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, the United Way Make-a-Wish Foundation and KickStart, a nonprofit organization he created to help battle drugs and violence in schools. He also starred in the television movie Bound by Honor (1993), broadcast on CBS. He lives on a ranch when not filming. His birthday is March 10.
IMDb mini-biography by
DANIEL
Mini biography
Chuck Norris's fight career lasted from 1965-1970. Norris started off by losing his first three tournaments, but by 1966 he was almost unbeatable. Among the numerous titles he won were The National Karate Championships (1966), All-Star Championships (1966), World Middleweight Karate Championship (1967), All-American Karate Championship (1967), Internationals (1968), World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship (defeating Louis Delgado on 24 November 1968), All-American Championship (1968), National Tournament of Champions (1968), American Tang Soo Championship, and the North American Karate Championship. Norris compiled a fight record of 65-5 with wins over champions Joe Lewis, Skipper Mullins, Arnold Urquidez, Ron Marchini, Victor Moore, Louis Delgado, and Steve Sanders. Of the five men to beat Norris, three were Allen Steen, Joe Lewis, and Norris's last career defeat to Louis Delgado in 1968. Norris retired as undefeated Professional Full-Contact Middleweight Champion on January 17, 1970, he was 30 years old.
IMDb mini-biography by
angelsunchained
Spouse
Gena O Kelley' (28 November 1998 - present) 2 children
Diane Holechek (1958 - 1988) (divorced) 3 children
Trade mark
Usually plays heroes who are good guys to the bone, and despite having harmful martial arts skills, would always rather find a better solution than fighting.
Trivia
Campaigned for George Bush in the 1988 U.S. elections.
Eldest of three sons born to Ray and Wilma Norris. Chuck's brothers are Wieland Norris (born July 12, 1943; KIA in Vietnam, 1970) and Aaron Norris. Aaron is the youngest of the trio, the proverbial "runt of the litter."
Father of Mike Norris and Eric Norris, the latter of whom is a professional stock car driver. Chuck also has a daughter named Dina, born in 1964. Diane Holechek is the mother of Chuck's aforementioned kids; of those three, Dina is the only one not mentioned in Chuck's 1980's autobiography, "The Secret Of Inner Strength: My Story." More recently, Chuck and Gena O'Kelly (his second wife) welcomed opposite-sex twins Dakota Alan (the boy) and Danilee Kelly (the girl). The twins' birthday is August 30, 2001.
Often trained with Bruce Lee.
6-time World Karate Champion; among those he faced for this title are fellow actors Joe Lewis and Steve Sanders.
He was the karate teacher of father-son actors Steve McQueen and Chad McQueen. The elder McQueen encouraged Norris to pursue a career in movies and television; allegedly, he told Chuck: "If you can't do anything else, there's always acting."
Received "Veteran of the Year 2001" honor at the 6th Annual 'American Veteran Awards'. [12 December 2000]
In the movies where he's a police officer, Norris usually prefers to work alone (i.e. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), Code of Silence (1985) and Top Dog (1995)).
Has 3 grandchildren by son Eric Norris; these include fellow actress Gabby Di Ciolli.
He has founded two of his own martial arts: Chun Kuk Do ("the Universal Way") and American Tang Soo Do.
He is the Founder of the National Tang-Soo-Do Congress (NTC) and the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF). Chuck is also President of the latter.
Founder of National Tang Soo Do Congress (NTC).
He has a 10th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and also an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do...that is, the Korean (or traditional) styles of each.
His father Ray was killed in a car accident, shortly after cancer surgery. Part of Ray's throat and chin were removed; a tube was inserted in his trachea to help him breathe. Ray was thrown out of his car in the wreck, and the tube came out. Ray suffocated on the ground because no one at the accident site was aware of the tube.
His voice and drama coach was Jonathan Harris, of "Lost in Space" (1965) fame. Harris "taught him how to speak," by putting his fingers in Norris's mouth, and stretching the mouth wide open. He names Jonathan as the only man in the world who could get away with doing that to him...a fact Jonathan was always proud of.
Having worked for years as a martial-arts instructor (giving both public and private lessons), he was offered the role of "Sensei Jon Kreese" in the original The Karate Kid (1984). He turned it down, claiming he did not want his name connected with such a brutal and vicious character.
Despite their vast political differences, he is friends with actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg. He was so impressed with a performance of hers that he tried, unsuccessfully, to get her a role in his film Invasion U.S.A. (1985).
Reader's Digest once noted a story of how Norris, true to his characters, prefers to find a non-violent way to solve a situation. Norris was in a bar once when a customer walked in and said to him, "You're in my seat. Move." Norris complied, and as the customer sat down, he recognized Norris. He then said, "Chuck, you could've kicked my butt if you wanted to. Instead of moving, why didn't you just attack me?" Norris' response: "What would that have accomplished?" Norris later said the experience resulted in him getting a new admirer and a new friend.
He has 5 children, 3 from first wife Dianne Holechek; Mike (b. 1962), Dina (b. 1964), and Eric (b. 1965) and 2 from second wife Gina O'Kelley; twins Dakota Alan and Danilee Kelly (b. 2001).
Is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the Machado Brothers.
As a child, his idol and favorite actor was John Wayne, Indeed, their on screen personas bear much in common. Both achieved their highest level of fame playing no nonsense good guys who were uncorruptable and did whatever it took to "take the trash out" and make sure that justice was served and that the bad guys got what they deserved.
Supporter of the US Republican Party.
Below is for Will Kutler
John Wayne - American Patriot
John Wayne had a deep love for his country. This patriotism is reflected throughout his life. He had wanted to go into the military but an old football injury prevented it. He is quoted as saying,
"More than anything else, I wanted to go to Annapolis and become an officer in the Navy. It was a terrible disappointment when I didn't make it."
The American public may have lost the chance at a great officer but John Wayne never failed us. He worked with the USO (United Service Organization) in supporting US troops from WW2 through to Vietnam. His visits cheered and encouraged many a young service man. Duke wore Capt. Stephen P Hanson's "Prisoner of War" bracelet after the Marine was shot down over Laos, Vietnam. Sadly, Hanson never came home but John Wayne stayed in contact with his wife and young son.
June 20,1966 - John Wayne signs Pvt. 1st class Fonsell Wofford's helmet during visit to the 3rd battalion 7th Marines at Chu Lai.
Photographer Ssgt. Fleetwood
John Wayne never shied away from politics. He actively spoke out for the candidates he thought were best including Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. He honorably held for 3 years the position of president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.
John Wayne had many honors bestowed on him. During a visit to Vietnam in 1966 he was given a tribal bracelet of the Montagnard people. In 1973 he was honored with the Veterans of Foreign Wars highest award - The National Americanism Gold Medal. Congress awarded Duke the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979.
Most recently John Wayne has been honored with an Army RAH-66 Helicopter, to be named "The Duke." Many were there at the naming ceremony in Washington D.C. on May 12, 1998, including his children and grandchildren, congress men, the president of the USO Metropolitan Washington, dignitaries and many military personnel. Michael Wayne said at the ceremonies,
"John Wayne loved his country and he loved its traditions."
John Wayne once said,"Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been and never will be."
***
America, Why I Love Her
John Wayne's Military movies
John Wayne: Actor, Artist, Hero
JW Home
Biography
Ronald Reagan tribute to his long time friend, John Wayne.
John Wayne - Patriot
John Wayne works with the USO, visits the troops and is honored by the military with a Army RAH-66 Helicopter named the "Duke."
The Bracelet
The story behind John Wayne's POW and Montagnard bracelets.
In the News
John Wayne was often in the news. Here are some little known news events.
Congressional Gold Medal
The United States honors John Wayne with a gold medal.
Duke's Military Films
John Wayne represented all branches of the Armed Forces in his movies.
John Wayne Facts
Are you wanting to know how tall John Wayne was, where he was born, where he went to school... Check out this quick fact sheet on the Duke.
Memorable Moments
Special scenes and quotes in the film career of John Wayne.
John Wayne Trivia
Fun and interesting trivia in the life and film career of John Wayne.
John Wayne Tour
There are lots of "Duke" places to visit in California. Read our humorous account of "the John Wayne" tour.
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that never went on a USO tour...they were "brave" enough to never leave Hollywood. These two were also "brave" enough to be some of the leading "narcs" during the McCarthy years. 
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