Chuck Norris‘ “Walker, Texas Ranger” co-star Judson Mills is speaking out about the Emmys decision to snub Norris from its In Memoriam tribute. Norris, who died in March at 86 years old, was a television icon in the 1990s as the star of the CBS procedural, which ran for nine seasons and 203 episodes between 1993 and 2001. The actor stayed with the show for its entire run and returned for the 2005 television movie “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.”
In an interview with TMZ, Mills said the Emmys made a “terrible” and “tragic” mistake by leaving Norris out of the In Memoriam section. Mills played Francis Gage opposite Norris in the final two seasons of “Walker, Texas Ranger” and the “Trial by Fire” follow-up.
“Tragic mistake. And I have to assume it was just a terrible mistake. But my first thought was Gena and the family and his fans,” Mills said, referring to to Norris’ widow Gena O’Kelley.
“I’m confident Chuck would encourage forgiveness. He was an ‘it’s not all about me’ kind of guy,” Mills continued. “But for an icon of his stature who impacted not only Hollywood, but the entire world, to see him not receive recognition at all and to see the family not receive that recognition was disappointing… It hurt my feelings for sure. He was a legend for God’s sake.”
Norris was far from the only notable snub during the Emmys In Memoriam segment. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Nicholas Brendon‘s name was not included on the screen during the tribute despite the ceremony including a “Buffy” reunion between Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz earlier in the show. Also omitted were “Days of Our Lives” and “Starship Troopers” actor Patrick Muldoon, “The Gong Show” panelist Jaye P. Morgan, “The Ring” actress Daveigh Chase and “30 Rock” performer Grizz Chapman, among others.
Norris’ death was announced by his family on March 20. The family wrote in a statement: “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. 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.”