American Actor Chuck Norris in Sicily 1985. Frederic Meylan | Sygma | Getty Images Chuck Norris, the former martial arts champion and 1980s action-film hero who fought the bad guys in "Code of Silence," "Missing in Action" and "The Delta Force" and upheld the law in the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger," died on Thursday, his family said in a statement on his Instagram account on Friday.

Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in "Walker, Texas Ranger" and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy -- sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents -- has died at 86.