He starred in TV series such as Walker, Texas Ranger and films including The Way Of The Dragon and The Expendables 2.
Chuck Norris was taken to hospital in the days following his 86th birthday on 10 March, according to US media reports.
The medical emergency reportedly happened suddenly, with several media reports showing Norris training in Hawaii with friends in the days leading up to his death.
He shared a video of himself on his birthday sparring with a trainer.
Carlos Ray Norris was born in Oklahoma on 10 March 1940. He grew up in a modest family and joined the US Air Force in his late teens.
While stationed in South Korea, Norris began training in martial arts, earning black belts in multiple disciplines and winning karate championships in the 1960s.
His big break on the screen came after meeting Bruce Lee, fighting the legendary martial artist in 1972’s Way Of The Dragon.
Norris went on to star in action films like Missing In Action (1984) and Delta Force (1986) and TV shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001).
His last appearance in a major film release was in The Expendables 2 (2012).
In later life, Norris founded martial arts schools and promoted fitness programmes.
He also became a cultural icon online during the early to mid-2000s thanks to jokes about his exaggerated toughness.
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