Akshay Kumar pays tribute to Chuck Norris: ‘The effortless command he brought on screen stayed with me’

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar paid tribute to the martial arts grandmaster and Hollywood’s action star, Chuck Norris, who passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Taking to X, Akshay shared an old photo of Norris and wrote, “Growing up as a martial artist, watching Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon, Missing in Action and many more wasn’t just entertainment…it was education. The discipline, strength, and that effortless command he brought on screen stayed with me. Grateful for the inspiration that shaped a part of me.”

Norris’ family confirmed his death on Thursday, sharing a statement on social media, describing it as “sudden passing”. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” they wrote.

Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He became a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion.

Later, he went on to act in more than 20 films, including, Missing in Action, The Delta Force and Sidekicks.

His last appearnace was in the 2024 science fiction action film, Agent Recon, directed by Derek Ting.