Chuck Norris, star of the highly rated CBS television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger," is one of the most popular and successful actors in the world. His unique ability to effectively combine action and adventure on the big screen in over 20 motion pictures has made him one of Hollywoods leading action stars with a large and loyal following here and abroad.

Audiences have come to know him as the straight-talking, no-nonsense American hero, the screens almost vanishing embodiment of America's heroic Everyman. In "Walker, Texas Ranger," he stars as modern-day Texas Ranger, Cordell Walker, whose independent crime-solving methods have their roots in the rugged traditions of the Old West.

Norris was born Carlos Ray in Ryan, Oklahoma, to an Irish-English mother and a Cherokee father. When Chuck was 12 , the family moved to Torrance, California. Though the early years were tough, his mother, a devout Baptist, held the family together financially and emotionally, while Chuck took care of his two younger brothers. "She is still an inspiration to me," he says. "We didn't have much money, but there was always plenty of love."

After graduating from high school, Norris joined the Air Force and held the rank of Airman First Class. He was first introduced to the Asian martial art of Tang Soo Do during a stint in Korea. "These studies changed my entire outlook on life," Norris recalls. He became the first professional world middleweight karate champion, a title he held onto until he retired, undefeated, in 1974. In 1969, he earned the Triple Crown for the highest number of tournament wins and was named Black Belt Magazine's "Fighter of the Year." He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwan Do, both Korean fighting styles, and he is familiar with all forms of the martial arts, a knowledge he incorporates into his fighting style in his acting.

By the time he was 34, Norris had achieved his early goals -- he had 32 Karate schools, and had been Champion for the past six years. He was up to a new challenge. On the advice of his friend, Steve McQueen, he turned to acting. He pursued this goal in the same diligent manner that led him eventually to become a champion.

"The hardest part of acting for me was to relax totally in front of the camera," he admits. "After many years of learning to control my emotions in karate, I found it very difficult to reverse that process and fully express them. But I try to learn from my mistakes and, hopefully, have developed more as an actor with each role."

While a large part Norris' appeal stems from his physical prowess, he stresses that his work features action, and violence. "I try to keep my fighting scenes artistic, using techniques as the show, rather than violence and its aftermath," he points out. "Most of all, the characters I portray use their skills only as a last resort, and that's what I want people to take with them."

Clearly, Norris is a true American hero on as well as off the screen. In a time when heroes are scarce, this truth rings through Norris characters and contributes to his believability. As a result, Walker, Texas Ranger has dominated its time slot since its inception. It continues to appeal to the mass population and has the ratings to back it up.