Inside 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Star Chuck Norris' Career And Net Worth

Mar 11, 2022

Chuck Norris is undoubtedly one of the most famous men in the entertainment industry. Known for his impeccable skills as a martial artist and his work as an actor, producer, and screenwriter, Norris is an unstoppable force. On top of that, he is also a husband and a father.

Norris has had a very busy and popular career starring in a handful of shows and movies, such as “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “The Way of the Dragon,” “Invasion U.S.A.” and “Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos.” As an expert in various martial arts systems, Norris implemented these skills and used them to become a highly successful action star. 

While Norris has slowed down a bit with his career in recent years, the actor is still a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. While many fans look up to Norris as a great example of what an action star looks like, others are still blown away by his real-life skills as a martial artist.  

However, Norris has also been in the media for many of his personal ideals and beliefs, as he has spoken out about very important and sometimes controversial topics over the years. He has also had issues within his personal life, including not knowing about an illegitimate daughter and had been unfaithful during his first marriage.

Whether people are fans or critics of Norris, the actor has continued to stay relevant in mainstream Hollywood and has continued to make small appearances in television shows and commercials. He has a high net worth and is very devoted to his second wife, Gena O’Kelley. Read on to find out more details about Norris’ career, beliefs, relationships and net worth.

Norris has been through a lot in his life. He was a teenager when his parents divorced, and his father – who had issues with alcohol – disappeared from his life. Norris still tried his hand at love despite not having the best role models for it and married his high school sweetheart Dianne Holechek in 1958.

However, devastation swept over the couple when Norris cheated on his wife in 1962, resulting in a child that the actor didn’t find out about until several years later. According to Women Working, Norris received a letter from a woman named Dina in 1991 who claimed to be his daughter.

Without hesitation, Norris believed Dina. “I didn’t need DNA or blood tests,” Norris said. “I went to her, wrapped my arms around her, and we both started crying. At that moment, it was as if I had known her all my life.”

Nowadays, Norris is married to O’Kelley, who is 23 years younger than him. They have a set of twins together and two kids from O’Kelley’s previous marriage and two sons from Norris’ first marriage. Norris is also a grandfather of 13.

Finding out about Dina encouraged Norris to pen a controversial letter in 2007 advocating to end abortion, as he was glad that her mother chose to follow through with the pregnancy despite his absence. This wasn’t the only time Norris was under fire, as he later claimed that gay people shouldn’t be allowed in the Scouts, according to The Guardian. He has continued to be very outspoken about his faith and has authored several books about Christianity.

However, Norris has also received good press coverage from his work in the entertainment industry as well as with charitable organizations and causes. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he was made an honorary member of the Texas Rangers for helping underprivileged youths via martial arts programs.

He has also proven to be very devoted to his current wife. According to CBS News, Norris once put his career on hold when O’Kelley was having major medical issues in the early 2010s. She needed contrast screening and had been given an injection containing gadolinium, a type of heavy metal with magnetic properties, that resulted in her becoming very sick. 

Norris told CBS News:

"My whole life is focusing on keeping her as well as I possibly can; you know I've had to give up my film career."

Norris didn’t leave his wife’s side for five months and slept on the couch next to her as she focused on her recovery. Norris and O’Kelley now work at raising awareness about the usage of gadolinium. Norris told CBS News that one of the only reasons he's been able to do the work he and his wife is doing is because they have the money to pay for lawyers and support for their case. 

As far as Norris’ career goes, he seems to be taking a bit of a backseat at the moment. His most recent acting roles are from 2020, including appearances on “Hawaii Five-0” and “TNA iMPACT! Wrestling.” Still, there’s no denying his celebrity status, and it’s clear that he has the net worth of an established star. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Norris has an estimated net worth of $70 million.

Are you a fan of Chuck Norris? What do you think about his personal and professional life? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends.