Chuck Norris’ granddaughter Greta Norris will forever hold her grandpa’s memory close to her heart.
“You all knew Chuck Norris as the man that counted to infinity twice, the man who got bit by a cobra and the cobra died,” Greta wrote via Instagram on Friday, March 20, alongside throwback family photos. “He was the man that would not do a push up but would push the earth down. Chuck Norris was known for many amazing things, but what I am most proud of is I got to know him as my Papa.”
She continued, “I knew him as the old man that would come to grandparents’ days at school, my soccer games and cheer me on as proud as he could be. A grandfather that would sit on his rocking chair and listen to me tell him stories and would sit with me watching his movies and reminiscing on all of his life’s achievements with a huge smile on his face. He would play dress up with me and loved to joke around and had a laugh and smile that could bring you out of sadness.”
News broke several hours earlier that Chuck died on Thursday, March 19, at age 86 after a brief hospitalization for an undisclosed medical emergency. The Walker, Texas Ranger star is survived by his wife, Gena O’Kelley, as well as his kids and grandchildren. (Chuck and O’Kelley, 62, shared twins Dakota and Danilee, both 24, and the actor was also the father of sons Mike, 63, and Eric, 60, with late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, and daughter Dina, 61, with a woman named Johanna.)
Greta is the daughter of Mike and his wife, Valerie Norris, who had countless memories of the late action star.
“If you got the opportunity to meet him you knew he is the most down-to-earth person ever,” Greta added in her social media tribute. “In a room full of people he would make it known that he was listening to you and only you. He made everyone he met feel like a friend.”
Greta further called Chuck “one of the most special people in [her] life.”
“I am forever grateful and proud that I am his granddaughter,” she wrote on Friday. “Papa, I love you so much. Thank you for everything. The world truly lost an icon and I lost my grandpa.”
Chuck Norris showed off his boxing skills on Instagram nine days before his death. The actor celebrated his 86th birthday on March 10 with a social media video telling fans, “I don’t age, I level up,” alongside clips of him sparring with a partner. “I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny […]
Greta also had a special message for Chuck directly, “Now, tell grandma I said hi. I love you forever papa ❤️.”
Chuck’s ex-wife, Holechek, died in December 2025 at the age of 84.
