Tough-guy actor and martial arts expert Chuck Norris has sued publisher Penguin over a book he claims unfairly exploits his famous name, based on a satirical Internet list of “mythical facts” about him.

Penguin published “The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World’s Greatest Human” in November. Author Ian Spector and two Web sites he runs to promote the book, including www.truthaboutchuck.com, are also named in the suit.

The book capitalizes on “mythical facts” that have been circulating on the Internet since 2005 that poke fun at Norris’ tough-guy image and super-human abilities, the suit said.

It includes such humorous “facts” as “Chuck Norris’s tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried” and “Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits,” the suit said, as well as “Chuck Norris can charge a cell phone by rubbing it against his beard…”

“Defendants have misappropriated and exploited Mr. Norris’s name and likeness without authorization for their own commercial profit,” said the lawsuit.

I thought he could walk on water, too – like all the other nutball heroes.




  1. bobbo says:

    Its a close call. Mine would be that as the front man for “I don’t believe in Evolution” Huckleberry, I think he is a public figure and fair game.

  2. DieFundie says:

    Hee what a humorless asstard Chuck Norris is.

  3. SN says:

    2. “Hee what a humorless asstard Chuck Norris is.

    I remember seeing Chuck on some talk show, Conan maybe, laughing it up about the list. He thought it was weird, but hilarious.

    So the fact that he’s suing has nothing to do with his sense of humor. It’s that since a book as been published, and people are buying it, and someone is making money, suddenly Chuck wants his cut.

    Still, you’re right about him being an asstard.

  4. deowll says:

    If this thing counts as a biography I’d think sueing was a waste of time unless it contains false information.

    He’s a public figure and more or less fair game.

    On the other hand actors and their lawyers get very up tight about others using their public persona to make money and there is some law that backs them up.

  5. raster says:

    Has Chuck ever watched any of his own movies?

    Fer crissakes, he stared in 3 titled “Missing in Action” – that can’t be good!

    He should just ride the train and take over from William Shatner when Altoids needs a spokesman for how their mint is “tough on bad breath”.

  6. bobbo says:

    “Hee what a humorless asstard Chuck Norris is.”

    No. With no facts to go on, its Huckleberry wanting as much news as possible to keep his candidacy alive.

    Money/Publicity – nearly the same thing in politics.

  7. billabong says:

    I hear that his Farts smell like gunpowder.

  8. bobbo says:

    #7–billabong==I think that is an excellent mixed metaphor but I can’t smell it.

  9. Jay says:

    The article is dated 12/07. Here is a more recent one that states he dropped the suit.

    http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/05/29/chuck_norris_drops_lawsuit_against_stude

  10. Rick says:

    Sure, Chuck is due some money, but how can he really complain when people are saying things like “Superman has Chuck Norris jammies” and that “Chuck Norris can eat just one Lays potato chip”…the guy should be on cloud nine…this world is broken.

  11. chrisroxx says:

    everyone thinks the jokes are funny, till I remind them that he had his own informercial on putting bibles back in schools.

  12. Mr. Fusion says:

    Norris dropped the suit when he realized he didn’t have a chance of winning.

    Propagating the truth has always been a defense.

    Like if I wrote that the internet myth about Cow-Patty eating shit sandwiches was incorrect. It is widely known that Cow-Patty is allergic to bread. Swear to god he is too.

    Or that Contempt sucks cocks and chases rabbits. Anyone that knows ‘temp, also knows that since he broke his leg he can’t run that fast.That’s the truth.

    But damn, so Superman doesn’t wear Norris jammies?

  13. soundwash says:

    um…how rigidly conventional..(?)
    apparently he’s lost his sense of
    humour and business sense as well..
    -or, he *thinks* he’s honing his political chops..

    if he had half a brain, he’d drop the suit
    and tell’em to cut him in for a small percentage of the profits and be done with it.

    i mean, he cant live off the residuals from
    walker texas ranger and exercise machine infomercials forever.

    people are just too uptight.

    -s

  14. Tyrant says:

    My first thought was that he was suing the publisher and “author” for being lazy bastards by making a book from a list that hundreds of other people made up.

  15. Nimby says:

    This is like a year old! In fact, wasn’t it posted here last summer? And didn’t we argue then that the problem was he was upset at having his name used in association with racist and sexist remarks? Hey, Eideard: is there a reason you’re bringing up the past? Chuck Norris never brings up the past. He does bring down the future from time to time.

    Hey, Fusion: Is Cow Patty allergic to all bread or just wheat products? Hate to see him go without his sandwiches.

  16. Nimby says:

    Sorry. Just followed the link. This damned article is well OVER a year old. What gives, Eideard?

  17. DieFundie says:

    Anything done on a talk show is *performance*. Besides being a right-wing anti-intellectual mythologist, Norris is a martial arts expert and an *actor*. I can smell humorlessness from orbit.

  18. Nimby says:

    #17 – You can call Chuck Norris a lot of things but – actor?

  19. 888 says:

    http://www.thechucknorrisfacts.com/

    my best:

    Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.

    If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris you may be only seconds away from death.

    Chuck Norris made Ellen Degeneres straight.

    Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

    Ironically, Chuck Norris’ hidden talent is invisibility.

  20. Sinn Fein says:

    Here’s an easy way to see ALL the episodes of Walker Texas Ranger in less than 60 seconds…watch the show’s opening show title and cast scenes segment and YOU GOT IT! Every episode, every plot laid out perfectly. I have to go hide now, Chuck just KNOWS where I am.


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