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Whether you know him for his acting, the old meme about him, or his political controversies, Chuck Norris is a very famous name.
He has been hospitalized following a medical incident.
There’s a lot that we don’t know just yet.
But here is everything that we do know:
Is he okay?
On Thursday, March 19, TMZ reported that Norris was rushed to the hospital in Hawaii.
According to the report, the 86-year-old actor was on the island of Kauai.
It is unclear what health incident may have occurred.
For now, we know only that it was a medical emergency of some kind.
However, for whatever it’s worth, those closest to Norris told TMZ that he is in good spirits.
It is possible — even likely — that we will know more about Norris’ condition within the coming days.
After all, a celebrity (even an aging TV actor who is best known for an odd meme from over two decades ago) going to a hospital means a lot of people will have the opportunity to leak details.
His medical incident could range from something cardiovascular to an allergic reaction to something else altogether.
Admittedly, most of Norris’ fans would feel much more comfortable hearing a health update from the man himself.
It not only shows that he’s the one making things public, but will help reassure people who worry about him that he’s alright.
He is 86 years old
Just over a week before this, on March 10, Norris celebrated his birthday.
The controversial actor is 86 years old.
He attempted a callback at his eponymous meme from the early aughts, quipping: “I don’t age. I level up.”
Norris announced: “I’m 86 today! Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young.”
He expressed: “I’m grateful for another year, good health, and the chance to keep doing what I love.”
Despite his age, Norris has continued to remain physically active.
(And, of course, to showcase this activity on social media.)
Norris has shared photos and videos of himself riding horses, lifting weights, and going on hikes.
He has also of course engaged in what appear to be very careful practice fights.
However, health is not synonymous with physical activity. Staying active helps, but does not make anyone immune to medical incidents.
He is a controversial figure
Norris has consciously chosen to be a controversial figure, which goes back many decades.
He was an outspoken fan of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. He has openly supported and rubbed elbows with Benjamin Netanyahu.
A little under two decades ago, he voiced support for the “birther” conspiracies surrounding President Barack Obama. Norris also supported Prop 8, which temporarily outlawed marriage equality in California.
Infamously, in 2012, he “warned” of civilizational doom if President Obama were to be reelected. Though it does often feel like the world is crumbling into despair, Obama is not the cause of the collapse.
All of this has complicated his legacy and how some of his erstwhile fans regard him and his projects from decades past.
But on the other hand, he’s not one of those people who rolled out of bed one day and decided to become radicalized. There’s something to be said for consistency.
