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From Oklahoma to the world -

Chuck Norris was born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma.

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Football was not really his thing -

But when he played in high school, his jersey number was 1.

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He actually served in the military -

In 1958, Chuck was sent to South Korea as an Air Policeman for the United States Air Force.

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He learned how to fight in South Korea -

While deployed at the Osan Air Base in South Korea, he took an interest in the local martial art, Tang Soo Do.

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He's a legit martial artist -

Chuck Norris is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, Taekwondo, and Judo. 

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He taught "The King of Cool" how to fight -

Norris was Steve McQueen's martial arts teacher in the mid-1970s. In return, McQueen encouraged Norris to take up acting.

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He fought Bruce Lee -

Not many people in the world can say they fought Bruce Lee, right? 'The Way of the Dragon' kick-started his career as an action movie star. 

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He was a martial artist turned actor -

And just like Bruce Lee, Norris was also an athlete before becoming an actor.

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He invented his own martial art! -

Chuck Norris founded a fighting system called Chun Kuk Do.

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The Chuck Norris system -

He founded the governing and sanctioning body for his own system. It's called the United Fighting Arts Federation.

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He's a karate champion -

Norris won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968 and held it for six years.

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He has a road named after him -

Chuck Norris Road can be found on Trebevic Mountain, near Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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He has video games named after him - Check out 'Chuck Norris Superkicks,' 'Missing in Action' (unreleased), 'Chuck Norris: Bring On the Pain,' and 'Non Stop Chuck Norris.'

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He's a lethal weapon, literally -

He has his name on the barrel of a howitzer. 

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He's got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -

Chuck Norris earned his much-deserved star in 1989.

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His friends are equally kickbutt -

He costarred with huge action stars in his latest movie, 'The Expendables 2.'

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He's the best ranger -

He really did convince us that he's fit for the role. First in 'Lone Wolf McQuade' and then in 'Walker, Texas Ranger.'

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Movie star - From 'The Delta Force' to 'Missing in Action,' among many others, Norris established himself as an indisputable action movie star.

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Chuck Norris facts - Humorist and web developer Ian Spector is the man originally behind the "Chuck Norris facts" Internet phenomenon, sharing hundreds of funny, hyperbolic "facts" about the star.

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He's in shape -

Norris still works out. In 2015, he got his 3rd degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. 

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He's a tough guy with a kind heart -

He can be tough...but his heart melts when he sees a pup.

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The tough trucker in 1977's 'Breaker! Breaker!' -

Norris never refuses a challenge. Arm wrestle a guy twice his size? Not a problem! 

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He always gets the girl in the end -

Who can resist his charm, really?

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He can wear this... -

And pull it off!

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And this... -

And look tough and suave as only Chuck Norris can.

See also: Action stars: where are they now?

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