Chuck Norris’ Kids Dakota and Danilee Break Their Silence Following His Death at Age 86
Chuck Norris’ twins, son Dakota and daughter Danilee Norris, have broken their silence following the late actor’s death at age 86.
“Dad, it’s hard to find the right words for this, but I’ll do my best,” Dakota, 24, wrote via Instagram on Friday, March 20. “You’ve been the man I looked up to my whole life. Your generosity, your kindness, your courage, your integrity, your strength, your discipline, and your faith in the Lord were just a handful of things I always admired about you. You lived your life with purpose and with love for all people.
Alongside a carousel of photos of his dad, Dakota described Chuck as “the greatest father God could have ever given me and the finest man I’ve ever known.”
“No matter what I was going through, you were always there. You made sure I knew how much you loved me. Honest to God, I don’t think there was a single day that went by where you didn’t say it,” he added. “I’m so proud to be your son. The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughs we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
“Thank you for everything you gave to our family and for the example you set every day. I hope I can live a life that honors you and makes you proud,” Dakota’s tribute concluded. “I love you, Dad. I’ll miss you forever.”
Dakota’s fraternal twin sister, Danilee, acknowledged in her own statement that “grief is [not] a good enough word” to describe what her family is going through.
“My dad was my protector the moment I was born and as soon as he took me in his arms, I’ve been his little girl,” she wrote. “That was something I would always acknowledge even when I was too big to be cradled properly. … My dad loved so deeply and cared for every single person in his life with so much tenderness. He may have a warrior exterior, but his heart was so full of love and I’m so grateful that is something he and my mom passed down to me.”
Danilee thanked Chuck for being a “safe person” she could speak candidly with about whatever was happening in her life.
“I could not have asked the Lord for a more amazing father. I thank You, Lord, for blessing me with a father who took every opportunity to show me that he wanted to give us a good life,” Danilee went on. “And thank you, Dad, for supporting me in all my passions and for pushing me to not shy away from the impossible. Thank you for your constant compassion and for loving me so much that it’s made me learn to love myself. I promise I will always and forever try to make you proud even if you already reminded me every day that it was impossible not to. I love you forever.”
TMZ reported on Thursday, March 19, that Norris was hospitalized for an unspecified medical emergency. While the outlet initially reported that Norris was in “good spirits,” his family confirmed hours later that the Walker, Texas Rangeractor had died.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” an Instagram statement from Norris’ family read on Friday.
His family continued, “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace. To the world, he was a martial artist, actor and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother and the heart of our family.”
Norris leaves behind five children and multiple grandchildren. Chuck and first wife, Dianne Holechek, shared sons Mike and Eric, while he had daughter Dina from another relationship in the early 1960s. Following his 1989 divorce from Holechek, Chuck married model Gena O’Kelley in 1998, and they welcomed twins, Dakota and Danilee, in 2001.