Chuck Norris, action man who inspired endless memes, dead at 86

"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the family said in a statement on Instagram.

"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."

US media reported Thursday that Norris had been hospitalized for an undisclosed condition while on the island of Kauai, several days after he celebrated his 86th birthday with a video of him boxing on social media and saying "I don't age. I level up."

In the statement, the family said it would like to keep the details of his passing private, adding "please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.

The martial arts expert turned actor starred in a slew of action films since his acting debut with a cameo in a 1968 Dean Martin film "The Wrecking Crew."

Four years later, his epic fight with the kung-fu superstar Bruce Lee in "The Way of The Dragon" helped turn Norris into an icon on big and small screen alike.