How Chuck Norris and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Inspired Taylor Sheridan, ‘Yellowstone’ and the Neo Western Genre
The 'Walker, Texas Ranger' star created the neo-western genre that inspired Taylor Sheridan
Chuck Norris passed away on Friday, March 20, at age 86. His cause of death hasn’t been released to the public yet, but an official statement made on Instagram said “he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother and the heart of our family,” the post continued. “He lived his life with faith, purpose and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.”
The death comes after it was revealed that he was in the hospital for an undisclosed illness and as of publication, it’s not confirmed whether that illness was connected to his passing.
“We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way,” the family’s statement reads. “As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time. Thank you for loving him with us.”
To honor Norris, and this lasting legacy on neo-western TV and beyond, we’re looking back at his time on Walker, Texas Ranger and even share some details on how the show impacted Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. Read on for more.
A look at Chuck Norris’ time on ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’
Walker, Texas Ranger followed Cordell Walker (Norris), a modern-day Texas Ranger who enforces the law by showcasing his martial arts skills, intuition and classic Western values. It ran from 1993 to 2001 and had heart, danger and showed viewers that Western values and heroism could thrive in the modern world
In fact, the show was so successful that it was even made into a spinoff series entitled Walker, which ran from 2021 until 2024.
“[Chuck Norris] gave his blessing. He helped create the original version, and so he still co-owns it. He didn’t have any problem with it, thank goodness, because I don’t want to mess with Chuck Norris,” Walker star Jared Padalecki said on Good Morning America in 2021. “But I’ve seen all the GIFs and memes and stuff. So, he did have to give his blessing… It’s a very, very different show, and our Walker, Texas Ranger is a very different Walker than his Walker, but he did give his blessing.”
How ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ impacted Taylor Sheridan
Long before he was a writer, Sheridan was an actor. His first role? Vernon in Season 3, Episode 15 of Walker, Texas Ranger, which aired in 1995.
“Chuck Norris was the first celebrity I ever met, and he was such a gracious guy. But he got into a fight with another actor. Chuck’s itty-bitty and this guy was huge,” Sheridan told The New York Times in 2022. “You know all the Chuck Norris jokes? He actually does just beat up people with his fists.”
Following his time on Walker, Texas Ranger, Sheridan continued to act before eventually deciding he was meant to create and write TV shows, not star in them. Over the years he has created several shows and movies, but the most popular is Yellowstone, a neo-western show that only happened because Walker, Texas Ranger created the genre all those years ago.
“Before Hell or High Water [Sheridan’s 2016 movie], I was told, ‘Westerns are dead.’ My argument was, ‘No, bad Westerns are dead.’ There’s still an appetite for them,” Sheridan told The New York Times. “It’s just that no one had made a good one in a long time. I wanted this one to be more reflective of the real West today.”
“My family is split between Wyoming and Texas. I’ve watched those areas change so much with this influx of massive amounts of money from people in urban centers building second homes and ski resorts, and I’ve watched this way of life die,” he continued. “I just thought it would be fascinating to explore that idea on the biggest scale.”
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