If you type Chuck Norris’s name on an online platform, you’ll most likely be met with memes and stories like “Death had a close call with Chuck Norris” and “When Norris gets pulled over by a cop, he writes himself a ticket”. These are just a few examples of the many quips about Chuck Norris making the rounds on the internet.
Though the origins of these stories are uncertain, there is no doubt that Norris’s legendary status has grown in the past few years. His sudden internet fame has reignited interest in his personality and the stories and beliefs he cherishes. Continue reading to learn more about those views, as well as some history and background on Norris’s life and answer your burning question of when did Chuck Norris become a Christian?
Background
On March 10, 1940, in the small town of Ryan, Oklahoma, Chuck Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris Jr. He was the oldest of three brothers. He was born into a dysfunctional family to an alcoholic father. His family was left incomplete when his father (Ray Norris) left after filing for divorce.
Wilma, his mother, raised him and his brothers as a single mother. His mother relocated herself and the boys to California. After moving, Chuck assisted his mother in the upbringing of his younger brothers. Norris remained an average student with little interest in sports and was frequently bullied because of his Cherokee and Irish ancestry. He then revealed that he often had dreams of beating up all his bullies who easily preyed on him due to his blond hair and blue eyes.
Norris married his high school sweetheart, Diane, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 1958. He worked as a military police officer in South Korea. This is where he felt inspired and started learning about Tang Soo Do martial arts and became known as “Chuck”. His relentless passion for martial arts prompted Norris to build multiple schools for karate teaching. He employed himself as a professional trainer in 1962 after he retired from the military.
With his business ever-growing, his family was not far behind, and he welcomed three children, Mike, Dina, and Eric (1962, 1964, and 1965 respectively). Norris participated in karate contests, swiftly climbing the ranks to become the best in the sport. He had won the Professional World Full-Contact Middleweight Karate Champion trophy in 1968, which he kept until 1978 when he retired unbeaten from the sport.
Hollywood Life
Norris, who retired at the age of 34, was enjoying commercial acclaim at that time. He owned over 32 schools that taught karate and served as a personal teacher for many Hollywood A-list personalities like the Osmonds and, most notably, Steve McQueen. He credits McQueen for getting him into show business.
By that time, Norris had been in 2 films (The Wrecking Crew and Fury of the Dragon) in 1969 and 1972, respectively, playing small roles. After speaking with the Hollywood icon Bruce Lee, he decided to continue acting more seriously. He starred with Bruce Lee in Return of the Dragon in 1973.
Norris had swiftly established himself as a significant figure in action movies by 1977. His first leading role was in Breaker! Breaker!. Despite its lack of critical acclaim, the film helped Chuck establish himself as a bankable Hollywood star. Lone Wolf McQuade and The Hitman are among some noteworthy features, and this was just the starting point of his career. He went on to star in more than 23 movies.
He later shifted genres and became part of the television world when his cinematic career began to wane. He starred in the immensely popular series Walker, Texas Ranger, with 203 episodes spanning over eight years.
Influence of Christianity In Chuck’s Life
Norris grew up in a Christian home surrounded by a God-fearing mom who urged him to grow and learn more in his faith. At the age of 12, he devoted his life to God. However, Norris drifted from his faith once his career flourished. He had a daughter from an affair and even divorced his 1st wife, despite his religion being embedded in him since an early age.
He was often reported as saying how he was at the lowest in this period of his life, and due to Hollywood fame, he lost sight of what was important in his life. As a result, he lost his marriage. He rededicated his life to Jesus when he got together with his second wife, Gina. He gives this marriage credit for getting him spiritually back on track, both individually and as a couple and helping them better their relationship with God.
From there onwards, Norris has had another addition to his family—his twin daughters Danilee and Dakota. His love for children inspired him and his partner to form the Kick Start Foundation, which aims to develop good moral character in youngsters via martial arts instructions. Norris claims that his organization has enabled him to empower children via positive thoughts and Christian principles.
Norris is well-known in the entertainment world for his vocal standpoint on Christianity and his reluctance to bow to the pressures of Hollywood. Chuck has been seen promoting films that highlight Christianity, such as The Passion of the Christ starring Mel Gibson. He has been seen on multiple talk shows speaking about faith and writing for several independent news outlets.
Our Final Thoughts
You don’t have to ponder anymore on how or when did Chuck Norris become a Christian. Norris is a man who stands by his beliefs. He credits his early years of negativity for providing him with the desire he needed to thrive. He feels the only reason he has had such degrees of success in his life is due to the Lord. He thinks as Christians, it’s our responsibility to use our platform to preach positivity and shed light on Christianity and all that it has to offer.
