Diane Holechek, Chuck Norris’ ex-wife, has passed away at the age of 84.
Norris paid tribute to his former high-school sweetheart via a Facebook post.
“I am deeply saddened to share that my ex-wife, Dianne, has passed away,”
Norris wrote. “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…Dianne was an incredible person. She was kind, intelligent, and lived life to the fullest. Her presence in my life will never be forgotten. She was also a loving and devoted mother to our sons, Mike and Eric, who were always her greatest pride.”
Norris and Holechek married in 1958. The couple then separated in 1988, before filing for divorce the following year. According to their son Mike, Holechek died peacefully at home in Texas. She had been battling dementia.
“We are thankful she is no longer suffering. She was the best, the greatest mom. We were so lucky to have her,” her son told TMZ.
Chuck Norris Remarried in the Late 90s
Eleven years after divorcing Holechek, Norris remarried. He and Gena O’Kelly tied the knot in 1998. The couple had twins together in 2001.
Throughout the early 2000s, Norris continued to dabble on the movie set. He featured in some big movies, including Dodgeball: A True Story, The Expendables 2, and, more recently, the remake of Hawaii Five-0, where he made a one-episode cameo.
However, it was his work in the 70s and 80s that saw him enjoy a meteoric rise to fame. His roles as “Colt” in Way Of The Dragon and “J.J. McQuade” in Lone Wolf McQuade were two of his more successful roles.
Chuck Norris Also Had Another Daughter Out of Wedlock
In his 2004 autobiography, Norris revealed that he had another daughter from a relationship outside of his marriage. To his fans’ surprise, he also revealed that the affair had led to the birth of another child, Dina. Norris wasn’t aware of Dina until she reached out to him in 1991, when she was 26.
“I didn’t need DNA or blood tests,” Norris recalled from when he first met his daughter’s eyes.
Despite their complicated past, Norris’ heartfelt statement about Holechek’s passing shows how much he meant to her. The couple had known each other for most of their lives. Norris, his children, and Holechek’s family will undoubtedly need some privacy to begin mourning.
