LOS ANGELES - Chuck Norris, the former star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," celebrates his 81st birthday on March 10.Norris, an American icon known for starring roles in popular action films and television, first studied martial arts in Korea in the 1950s while serving in the U.S.
Air Force, according to Biography.com. When he returned home, he opened a karate studio and later tried his hand at acting — appearing with Bruce Lee in the 1972 film "Way of the Dragon."His Hollywood career continued through the 1980s, and he even played the title character in the "Walker" TV series from 1993 until 2001.
In 2012, he co-starred in "The Expendables 2." FILE - Actor Chuck Norris speaks with the media during a press conference prior to the NASCAR Sprint.