Chuck Norris has died aged 86 after suffering a medical emergency in Hawaii as his children and close family pay tribute to the Hollywood actor

For years, Chuck Norris was known to millions as a martial arts legend and the star of Walker, Texas Ranger. But behind the tough-guy image was a deeply personal secret that only came to light when he received a surprise letter.

In 1991, Chuck was going through his mail at home when he opened a letter from a woman named Dina, who claimed to be his daughter – the result of a brief affair during his first marriage.

Dina had been born in 1964, during Chuck’s early years with his first wife, Dianne Holechek. At the time, Chuck had no idea the child existed.

For 26 years, he remained unaware he had another daughter. Dina, now 62, had discovered the truth about her parentage when she was 16. However, according to Chuck’s own account, her mother chose not to tell him, believing it would disrupt his marriage to his then wife.

It was only after Chuck’s marriage ended that Dina decided to make contact – writing to him with the support of her husband, Damien. Recalling the moment in a 2004 interview, Chuck said: “I was going through my mail at home and I see this letter and I open it up. It’s from Dina… and she says, ‘I’m your daughter from a past experience.'”

Unsure how to process the news, Chuck first turned to his own mother, who agreed to meet Dina before he did.

Writing in his memoir Against All Odds: My Story, Chuck described being called over after that initial meeting. As he walked into the room and saw Dina for the first time, he said the impact was immediate.

“I walked into the living room and nearly had my breath knocked out of me,” he wrote. “There, standing before me, was a beautiful young lady.”

Despite never having met her before, Chuck said he instantly knew the truth. “I didn’t need DNA or blood tests; there was no doubt in my mind that she was my daughter.”

The pair embraced, both overcome with emotion. In that moment, Chuck later wrote, he felt as though he had known her his entire life.

From that point on, what had begun as a shocking revelation quickly grew into a close and enduring relationship. Chuck embraced Dina as his daughter, making her part of his wider family and remaining in her life in the years that followed.

“I am blessed to have her as my daughter,” he wrote. He added that while he did not condone extramarital relationships, he believed deeply that “there is no such thing as an ‘illegitimate child’.”

Dina went on to build a life of her own. She remains married to her husband Damien, and together they have three children. Over time, Chuck became not just a father to her, but a grandfather to her sons.

In 2015, Chuck shared a glimpse of that bond publicly, posting a family photograph from a holiday in Hawaii that included Dina, her husband and their children.

The discovery of his daughter came during a period of major change in Chuck’s personal life. Just three years before receiving Dina’s letter, he had separated from Holechek after 30 years of marriage. The couple had two sons together, Mike and Eric, both now in their 60s.

In 1998, Chuck would go on to marry Gena O’Kelley, with whom he welcomed twins, Dakota and Danilee, in 2001 – further expanding his family.

Those closest to him have often described Chuck as a deeply family-oriented man. That was evident again following his death at the age of 86, after a medical emergency in Hawaii.

In tributes shared publicly, his children spoke of a man that was the “centre” of their family.

His son Dakota said he had looked up to his father his entire life, praising his “generosity, kindness, courage and integrity”. Meanwhile, his daughter Danilee described him as her “protector”, admitting that losing him was something she could never have prepared for.

In a statement, his family said: “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 and the heart of our family.”