Trending Now: How Chuck Norris became a legendary factoid and meme king – Fans React

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Chuck Norris spent years as a martial arts, television and movie star and even had a line of action figures at one point, but generations of fans know him only as in internet legend.

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Norris, who died Thursday at age 86, might be even more famous as a “meme lord” and the subject of hundreds of ridiculous internet “facts” about his toughness, fighting skills, and manliness.

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The “facts” became a worldwide phenomenon starting in the early 2000s, often featuring his beard, or martial arts prowess (roundhouse kicks were particularly common in the jokes). Sometimes they were about his television role as Walker, Texas Ranger.

Fans even employed them after the news of his death broke Friday, with one writing, “Chuck Norris isn’t dead. He just defeated mortal life.”

How did it all start?

It’s unclear how the whole thing started and why it became so big when it did. After all, Norris made his screen debut in 1968 and his heyday was in the 1980s, with an encore when Walker ran from 1993-2001. Vin Diesel has been tabbed as the original subject, but some say he was quickly replaced by Norris.

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Internet lore has credited Ian Spector and the Something Awful forums for its genesis. ESPN wrote a piece about how the Chuck Norris facts “gave birth to the modern meme” in 2006. It was also propelled by Conan O’Brien, who used to make Chuck Norris jokes on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Wikipedia noted humourist Spector has received credit as “the author of Chuck Norris facts” due to his role in creating online Chuck Norris fact generators. Spector also wrote several books, including The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 Facts About the World’s Greatest Human (2007) and Chuck Norris Vs. Mr. T: 400 Facts About the Baddest Dudes in the History of Ever (2008).

What did Chuck think about it?

Apparently Norris was on side with the exaggerated tales of his exploits. An author himself, Norris even said he hoped the statements would prompt people to read his own work. He also said many of the “facts” were funny

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In 2009 Norris even co-wrote The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book and in a 2006 interview with Time magazine, Norris quoted one of the “facts,” saying: “Chuck Norris can divide by zero.”

He also spoofed the jokes in 2012 in The Expendables 2 and in various commercials. The Expendables quip quoted what’s thought to be the original: “Chuck Norris was once bitten by a king cobra; after ten excruciating minutes, the cobra died.”

Fans’ memes after his death

On the Facebook post announcing Norris had died, fans of the actor paid tribute with one-liners:

“Chuck Norris didn’t die, Bruce Lee wanted a rematch, and Chuck Norris decided to oblige.”

“The world didn’t lose Chuck Norris, it just gained a guardian at a higher level.”

“Chuck Norris doesn’t die — he left to beat up the grim reaper.”

“Chuck Norris didn’t die, he left to take death’s job.”

“Chuck Norris actually died at 76 — it just took the Grim Reaper a full decade to work up the courage to tell him.”

“Chuck Norris didn’t pass away — he just walked into heaven and told Saint Peter, ‘I’ll take it from here.’”

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