Years before his passing, he showed incredible devotion, staying by his wife’s side in the hospital for five months while she couldn’t speak or swallow

After leaving the service in 1961, Norris pursued martial arts with intensity. He earned high-ranking belts in karate and judo and began teaching, eventually building a network of more than 30 karate schools across the United States. Among his students were high-profile names like Steve McQueen and Priscilla Presley — a sign that his reputation was already spreading beyond competition circles.

After retiring from competition in 1974, Norris faced financial difficulties when his karate business overexpanded and collapsed. He later spoke openly about losing everything and spending years rebuilding his life — a period that would ultimately push him toward a new path.

Acting.

Encouraged by Steve McQueen, he began studying the craft, often struggling against more experienced performers. At one point, he nearly gave up.

“I said ‘this isn’t going to work.’”

But instead of walking away, he chose a different route — writing his own material and creating opportunities for himself. That determination became the foundation of a career that would soon take off.

One of his earliest defining moments came in 1972, when he appeared alongside Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon. Their fight scene inside the Colosseum in Rome remains one of the most iconic sequences in martial arts cinema — not just for its choreography, but for the symbolic clash between two legends.

From there, Norris built a film career that spanned decades. He appeared in around 40 films, including Missing in Action (1984), Code of Silence (1985), and The Delta Force (1986). While he never chased awards, his presence defined a genre — tough, direct, and unmistakably his own.

As the 1990s approached, his film roles became less prominent. Rather than fading away, he shifted focus, building business ventures and continuing to grow his legacy. Over time, his net worth reached an estimated $70 million, reflecting both his career and entrepreneurial efforts.

But beyond fame and finances, Norris remained deeply committed to giving back. He supported organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and, in 1990, founded Kickstart with the support of President George H. W. Bush.

The program used martial arts not as a tool for fighting, but for building confidence and character in young people.