It has been 12 years since Chuck Norris did his last lead role, causing fans to believe he retired for good. Thankfully, the famous martial artist has graced screens again with the newly released sci-fi movie Agent Recon, where he plays Alastair. He has been actively promoting the one-and-half-hour-long film on his social media, delighting fans with his reappearance.
Norris also stars in the upcoming action-comedy production Zombie Plane, which promises to induce ‘90s nostalgia in viewers; however, there is not much information about its release. Contrary to what many thought, Norris never stopped working but simply went under the radar for valid reasons.
Why did Chuck Norris leave the spotlight?
Norris stepped back from all the attention and glamour to be there for his wife, Gena, who became ill with chronic pain after receiving an injection for an MRI scan in 2013. She was already managing rheumatoid arthritis, which got worse after the scan, presenting symptoms such as memory loss, communication issues, and tremors.
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Norris became fully focused on Geena, investing his time and money in her health as she spent days on IVs. He had taken her to a specialist in Nevada, only for conditions to worsen and demand more from him, hence his decision to quit his career. While discussing their ordeal with CBS News, Norris and Geena admitted to spending over $2 million during that difficult period.
Norris never really stopped working
Geena’s condition also birthed multiple legal battles with pharmaceuticals, which were accused of poisoning her with a metal named gadolinium during her MRI scans. While Norris was majorly on an acting hiatus, he still took on smaller roles since 2012, showing up in The Expendables 2, The Goldbergs, and Hawaii Five-0 as a guest star.
He also founded Kickstart Kids, which teaches children the art of Karate across schools in Texas and partners with QVC to promote gym equipment. He and Geena currently manage a bottled water company named CForce, which specializes in naturally alkaline electrolyte-rich water. Proceeds from sales reportedly go to Kickstart Kids to support martial arts adoption in middle and high schools.