'Hot for the Lord': 4 times Chuck Norris publicly proclaimed his faith in Christ

He was the subject of countless jokes about his unmatched toughness, but the late actor and martial arts grandmaster Chuck Norris often pointed to a different source of strength: his faith in God.

The actor, known for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and a decadeslong career in Hollywood, died Thursday at age 86, his family announced Friday.

Throughout his life, Norris was outspoken about his Christian faith. Here are four times he publicly proclaimed his faith in Christ.

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Norris delivered a commencement speech at Liberty University in 2008, where he discussed “how instrumental God has been in my life.”

Although he was baptized at age 12, the actor said he “wound up drifting from my faith” after his career took off, acknowledging that he had “been in films and I had fame and fortune, but I was very unhappy, and I couldn’t figure out why.”

Norris said his marriage to his wife, Gena, was the turning point in his life that brought him back to his faith: “It’s like the Holy Spirit hit me and said, ‘Chuck it’s time to come home.’”

“I was hot for the Lord, and I still am to this day,” he proclaimed. Norris read aloud the Scripture passage Proverbs 19 to the graduates before urging them to “Let Him direct your steps,” assuring them, “if you do, you can’t go wrong — I promise you.” 

“The Lord has directed my steps now through the last 10 years,” he said of a journey that began when he found his wife reading the Bible.

The president of Liberty University at the time, Jerry Falwell Jr., introduced Norris as “the type of role model to young people that has become rare in the entertainment field.” Norris also received a Doctor of Humanities degree from the school before delivering the commencement address.