Jean-Claude-Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Stephen King are among those paying tribute to Chuck Norris, the veteran action film and Walker, Texas Ranger star, who died Thursday at 86.
While the two never appeared together in films, a young Jean-Claude Van Damme trained with Norris for nearly two years in martial arts in the early 1980s before his acting career began to take off.
“Deepest condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris,” Van Damme wrote on Instagram alongside a photo montage of the two. “We knew each other from my early days, and I always respected the man he was. My heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be forgotten. 🥋🙏🏼💔”
Stallone and Lundgren worked with Norris on The Expendables 2 in 2012. All three starred in the film, which was also directed by Stallone.
“I had a great time working with Chuck,” Stallone wrote in Instagram. “He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family.”
“Chuck Norris is the champ, wrote Lundgren on Instagram. “Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model. Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. We will miss you, my friend.”
Stephen King appreciated Norris’ online memes and jokes, writing on X on separate posts, “My fave Chuck Norris joke: Chuck doesn’t flush the toilet, he scares the shit out of it.” In another he wrote, “When he was born, Chuck Norris drove his mother home from the hospital.” He added in another, “Seriously, I thought he was great. SILENT RAGE scared hell out of my boys…and me.”
My fave Chuck Norris joke: Chuck doesn't flush the toilet, he scares the shit out of it.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 20, 2026Actor Lorenzo Lamas also paid tribute to Norris, admiring the actor for his skill in martial arts. Lamas trained at a Los Angeles martial arts studio that was part of the Chuck Norris network.
“My prayers to Gina, Aaron and family. Watch out evil world, there is an angel of consequence at the gates. Chuck Norris doesn’t just get wings, he gets even,” he wrote on X.
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