The Walker, Texas Ranger actor met his high school sweetheart, Dianne Holechek, when they attended North High School in Torrance, California, in the 1950s.
“We went together for almost two years, and she was 15 when I started dating her,” he said in a 1985 interview. “I was 16 at the time, and then I married her when she was 17.”
Chuck and Holechek exchanged vows in 1958.
As the star of The Way of the Dragon pursued an acting career, Holechek supported him closely and always traveled with him for his projects.
“If you go separate ways, then you know something’s going to happen. But, she travels with me to my locations, and she’s on location most of the time, so we don’t separate for any extended period of time,” he continued at the time.
But in 1988, they announced they were separating after 30 years of marriage. They finalized their divorce the following year but remained on good terms as they continued to co-parent their children.
When Holechek died in December 2025 following a long battle with dementia, Norris paid tribute to his ex-wife and opened up about their close relationship.
“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,” he shared on Facebook. “Even as our lives took different directions, we continued to care deeply for one another, and I will forever cherish the memories we built together.”