The creator of the legendary Chuck Norrismemes has said he experienced an interesting moment when he first encountered the martial arts icon, who died yesterday (Thursday, March 19).

Ian Spector was behind the wildly popular Chuck Norris Facts phenomenon, where humorous fictional 'facts' about the actor and martial artist were shared online.

Norris died at the age of 86 after suffering a medical emergency in Hawaii.

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Ian's idea evolved from a similar trend that had been on actor Vin Diesel, but thanks in part to Chuck Norris's role in Dodgeball, released just months earlier, the memes exploded in popularity.

Among the amusing jokes were: Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down; death once had a near-Chuck-Norris-experience; and Chuck Norris beat the sun in a staring contest.

Chuck Norris Facts became an internet sensation, drawing millions of visitors to Ian's site monthly. Eventually, news of the website reached Norris himself, and following a conversation with his wife Gena O'Kelley, Ian received an invitation to meet the legend, reports the Daily Star.

In a 2023 interview with ESPN, Ian admitted he'd felt apprehensive about the encounter - wondering how someone of Chuck's stature would respond to him and how he'd view the website.

The meeting took place in a hotel suite in Connecticut, USA. Ian, who acknowledged struggling with social anxiety at times, recalled seeing Norris on a sofa before the star extended his hand in greeting. Ian later remembered how Chuck, then 64, looked surprisingly young, though clearly older than the from the man who had sparred with martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

He recalled: "He knows who he is. He wasn't as tall as you would think. But he still stood there in a way where he could have definitely killed anybody else in the room."

Ian described spending an hour with Chuckand Gena, enjoying pleasant conversation. He also said he noticed how Chuck and Gena began spooning on the sofa. Overall, Ian felt Chuck seemed more amused than irritated by his website and appeared pleased to be back in the public eye.

Ian's recollection of meeting Chuckcame just a few years before his death. The star had been taken to hospital earlier in the week whilst in Hawaii after experiencing a "medical emergency". Chuck's family issued a statement announcing his death and asked for privacy during this time.

After the announcement, Chuck's granddaughter Greta Norris shared a moving tribute on Instagram.

Acknowledging the memes at the beginning of her message, she wrote: "You all knew Chuck Norris as the man that counted to infinity twice, the man who got bit by a cobra and the cobra died."

She added: "Papa is one of the most special people in my life and I am forever grateful and proud that I am his granddaughter. Papa I love you so much thank you for everything. The world truly lost an icon and I lost my grandpa."