Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion and action film icon, announced the death of his former wife, Dianne Holechek, who passed away at age 84 following an extended battle with dementia.
The 85-year-old actor released a statement confirming Holechek’s passing and reflecting on their enduring relationship that spanned decades beyond their marriage.
“I am deeply saddened to share that my ex-wife, Dianne, has passed away,” Norris stated. “After being married for 30 years, we were able to find a way to remain close friends, and those years of friendship meant the world to me.”
Norris and Holechek married in 1958 and divorced in 1988, concluding a three-decade union that produced two sons, Mike and Eric. Despite the dissolution of their marriage, the pair maintained what Norris described as a close friendship in the years that followed.
In his statement, Norris offered a portrait of Holechek that extended well beyond her role as his former spouse. “Dianne was an incredible person,” he said. “She was kind, intelligent and lived life to the fullest. Her presence in my life will never be forgotten.”
The actor reserved particular emphasis for Holechek’s devotion to their children. “She was also a loving and devoted mother to our sons, Mike and Eric, who were always her greatest pride,” Norris noted.
The announcement comes as Norris himself has largely stepped back from the public eye in recent years, though he remains a cultural figure whose career defined action entertainment for a generation of Americans. His films and television work, particularly the long-running series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” established him as one of the most recognizable faces in American popular culture.
Holechek’s death after a prolonged illness underscores the personal challenges that accompany dementia, a condition affecting millions of American families. The disease’s progressive nature often requires years of care and presents significant emotional and practical burdens for loved ones.
The couple’s ability to maintain friendship following divorce represents an increasingly common but still noteworthy outcome in an era when many marriages end in acrimony. Their sustained relationship over more than three decades post-divorce speaks to a mutual respect that transcended the end of their marriage.
No information regarding funeral arrangements or memorial services has been made public at this time. The family has not indicated whether they are requesting privacy or will hold public commemorations for Holechek.
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