Chuck Norris honored his 102-year-old mother who worked night shifts to help her three sons escape poverty.
Chuck Norris recently celebrated his mother’s 102nd birthday with a sweet message. He said she was “so full of life” that she could easily live another 100 years!
In his letter to his mom Wilma, Chuck wrote, “It’s hard to believe that you are 102 and I’m 83! I’m so thankful to have you as my mom. We’ve been through a lot together and we are still going strong.”
Wilma Norris Knight, born in 1921, is Chuck’s mother. He believes that her influence, prayers and strong faith have helped make him the person he is today. Wilma was brought up in poverty and experienced the deaths of two husbands, a stepson, two grandchildren and her younger son Wieland in the Vietnam War. She has also been through numerous fights with cancer and 30 different surgeries, yet she is still alive today to tell her story.
Chuck’s dad left the family, so Wilma had to raise her three boys by herself. Chuck was the oldest. Even though it was hard for her, Wilma taught her boys to be strong and have good values.
She convinced them that they could do anything in life, and that even if they faced hardships, their determination would help them get through it.
Chuck feels incredibly thankful for the impact that three women have had on his life: his grandmother Scarberry (Wilma’s mother), who passed away at 90; his mother Wilma; and his wife Gina, whom he married in 1998.
The couple has two children, Dakota and Danilee, who were born in 2001.
Chuck Norris was born Carlos Ray in 1940 and grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. He watched famous stars such as John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Hopalong Cassidy.
After graduating high school in 1958, Norris joined the United States Air Force and was sent to Osan Air Base in South Korea. His plan was to be trained as a security police officer while there.
While he was in South Korea, he earned his black belt in a type of karate called Tang Soo Do and was given the nickname “Chuck”.
He was moved to an air force base in Riverside County, California and used the opportunity to open a martial arts studio in Torrance, where he was living. His martial arts skills had become incredibly popular and his studios grew quickly.
He practiced hard and eventually won his first title in 1968. He was the Karate World Champion for six years until he retired in 1974.
While teaching celebrities martial arts, Chuck met Bruce Lee, an American martial artist and actor. This meeting led to Chuck’s big break in the film The Way of the Dragon (1972), where he played Lee’s enemy.
Chuck Norris is one of Hollywood’s most successful action stars, thanks to his amazing agility and strength. He found fame after starring in the movies Breaker! Breaker! (1977) and Good Guys Wear Black (1978). Throughout his life, he has been inspired and supported by his mother.
When Mom turned 100, he said she had been an example of determination and trust throughout her life.