Chuck Norris’ kids are commemorating the life and legacy of their dad following his death.
On Friday, March 20, the famed martial artist and actor’s twins, Danilee and Dakota, 24, spoke out following the news of their father’s death, each sharing heartfelt tributes on their personal Instagrams. In her post, Danilee included several pictures of her and her “amazing” dad throughout the years, starting with a snap of them together at the beach and ending with a picture of her as a baby resting on his chest.
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“I don’t think grief is a good enough word to describe the emotions my family and I are going through right now.. losing a parent is something that you are never prepared for,” she began in her heartfelt caption. “Before I take the much needed time for myself and my family, I wanted to dedicate this post to my sweet father and acknowledge the amazing man he is.”
“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. That was something I would always acknowledge even when I was too big to be cradled properly. We made it work though just like one of the pictures above,” she continued, referring to a sweet throwback snap where she appeared to be sleeping as her dad cradled her in his arms. “My dad loved so deeply and cared for every single person in his life with so much tenderness.”
His younger daughter, whom he shares with wife Gena O’Kelley, went on to talk about how her dad’s “warrior exterior” was only matched by his heart, which was “so full of love.” Among other things, she noted that she’s “grateful” that he passed on that spirit to her.
“To say how thankful I am for him being my dad is an understatement,” she wrote. “He has been my safe person these past 24 years and I am constantly filled with gratitude for how much wisdom and love he has bestowed me and my brother. I will forever carry on his legacy and shower others in that compassion that he so frequently showed.”
“There is so much I want to say with 24 years worth of memories I could write about, but I will go ahead and at least say this — 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 added. “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.”
She concluded her message, signing off with love from his “little girl,” including a Bible verse from Matthew 5:4.
Danilee’s twin brother Dakota shared a few photos with his dad in his own tribute post on Instagram. The black-and-white photos showed the father-son pair enjoying each other’s company, ending with a throwback snap of them looking down at a live sporting event.
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Dad, it’s hard to find the right words for this, but I’ll do my best,” he began. “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.”
“You were 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,” he continued. “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. 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.”
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He concluded his heartfelt post by thanking his dad for “everything” he gave their family.
“Thank you for everything you gave to our family and for the example you set every day,” Dakota wrote. “I hope I can live a life that honors you and makes you proud. I love you, Dad. I’ll miss you forever.”
The actor’s family, which also includes sons Eric, 60, and Mike, 63, and daughter Dina, 61, confirmed his death via a statement released on his Instagram on Friday, March 20.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the statement read. “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,” it continued. “He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.”
The actor, who turned 86 earlier this month, was hospitalized in Hawaii on Thursday, March 19, TMZ previously reported. This came just days after Norris celebrated his birthday with an Instagram post of himself boxing and training on March 10.
Norris first found fame in karate films of the 1980s, including A Force of One and An Eye for an Eye. By the end of the decade, he was established as one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars. He starred in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, which premiered in 1993.
