Chuck Norris’s third wife, 60-year-old Gena O’Kelly, has been married to the star since 1998. He first tied the knot at 18, in 1958, with his high school sweetheart Diana Holechek. They had two sons, 61-year-old Mike and 59-year-old Erik. In 1964, Norris had a daughter named Dina from an extramarital relationship with a woman named Johanna. Norris first met Dina, raised by Johanna’s husband, when she was 27 years old. The actor divorced his first wife in 1989.

A decade after his first marriage ended, Norris married Gena. They are still married and, in 2001, welcomed twins, Dakota Allan and Danilee. Gena was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis ten years ago. Before undergoing an MRI, she was given a contrast that later turned out to have detrimental effects on her health. The toxic substance, gadolinium, caused severe damage to her body.

The British media company Unilad informed about Norris’s decision on their Instagram profile. According to them, Gena suffers from neuralgia and kidney problems. The couple spent an estimated $500,000 on her treatment, a figure Norris described as terrifying. He acknowledges their privileged position, having the financial means to afford such treatment. However, he wonders about those who are not as fortunate.

Unilad quoted Norris saying, “I have abandoned my film career to focus on Gena. My whole life is now focused on keeping her alive. I believe this issue is extremely important.” He was last seen on screen in 2012 for Simon West’s “Expendables”, where he starred alongside other cinema tough guys. His anticipated return, a comedy called “Zombie Plane” by Lava Bodnaruk, is yet to get a release date. It might be his first and last film post-retirement.