“If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.” This is just one of the countless Chuck Norris jokes that took the internet by storm in the 21st century, when the legendary actor and martial artist inexplicably became a cultural phenomenon. Best known for his iconic showdown against Bruce Lee in the 1972 classic Way of the Dragon, Norris cemented his status as a cinematic action hero, standing out as one of the few who dared to go toe-to-toe with the legendary martial arts master.
Norris wasn’t just a co-star to Bruce Lee; he was also his training partner. The two often practiced together off-screen, pushing each other to refine their skills. However, it was their electrifying clash in Way of the Dragon that truly captured the world’s attention. Directed and written by Lee, the film culminated in an unforgettable battle between the two inside Rome’s Colosseum. Filming illegally at the historic site, Lee and Norris improvised much of their fight choreography, drawing from their real-life sparring sessions.
While Norris’ role in the Bruce Lee film remains his most iconic, his career spans a wide array of projects, from leading roles to memorable cameos. He starred in the long-running TV series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 to 2001, appeared in the explosive action film The Expendables 3, and even made a surprising appearance in the 2004 comedy DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber.
In DodgeBall, Norris joined an eclectic ensemble cast featuring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, and Jason Bateman, among others. His cameo, though brief, became one of the most talked-about moments in the film. Initially, Norris was hesitant to take the role, as he revealed in an interview with Empire: “I said no at first because it was a three-hour drive to Long Beach. But then Ben Stiller called me and said, ‘Chuck, please, you’ve got to do this for me!’”
To accommodate Norris, the production sent a helicopter to pick him up and bring him to the set. Interestingly, Norris didn’t even read the script before filming his scene. He simply showed up, gave a thumbs-up, collected his paycheck, and left. Months later, when the movie was released, Norris went to see it, describing it as “cute, a little risqué in some areas.” But nothing prepared him for the film’s final moments, where his cameo became a punchline.
Recalling the experience, Norris said, “When Ben’s character is shown as a big fatty watching TV, the last line of the whole movie is, ‘Fuckin’ Chuck Norris!’ My jaw dropped. I thought, ‘Holy mackerel!’ Ben never told me about that.”
This unexpected twist turned into one of the most iconic moments in modern comedy. Without Chuck Norris’ involvement, the finale of DodgeBall might not have been nearly as memorable or hilarious. His cameo, though small, left a lasting impact, proving that even a brief appearance from the legendary action star could steal the show.
