
In the 1990s, he played the title role in the long running CBS television series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 until 2001. Apart from the Cannon films, Norris made Code of Silence (1985), which was received as one of his best films. Films with Cannon included Invasion U.S.A (1985), The Delta Force (1986), Firewalker (1986), etc. Norris started to work almost exclusively on high-profile action films with Cannon, becoming their leading star during the 1980s. This led Cannon Films to sign Norris into a multiple film deal, starting with Missing in Action (1984), which proved to be very successful and launched a trilogy. He went on to make studio films like Silent Rage (1982) with Columbia, Forced Vengeance (1982) with MGM, and Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) with Orion. This made Norris an international celebrity. Norris went on to star in a streak of bankable independently-made action and martial arts films, with A Force of One (1979), The Octagon (1980), and An Eye for an Eye (1981).

His second lead Good Guys Wear Black (1978) became a hit, and he soon became a popular action film star. Norris took the starring role in the action film Breaker! Breaker! (1977), which turned a profit. While Norris continued acting, friend and student Steve McQueen suggested he take it seriously. Friend and fellow martial artist Bruce Lee invited him to play one of the main villains in Way of the Dragon (1972). Norris went on to appear in a minor role in the spy film The Wrecking Crew (1969). Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor.
