Chuck Norris was an American martial artist, actor, and cultural icon whose career spanned more than six decades. Known for his championship level in martial arts background and his rise to action movie stardom, Norris became one of the most recognizable figures in American entertainment.    From Oklahoma Hardship to Air Force Discipline   Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris was born on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, the eldest of three boys in a family marked by instability and fi