Sandy Man with Cancer Meets His Idol Chuck Norris

For Mark Perry, a Sandy, Utah, resident battling stage 4 gastrointestinal cancer, life recently took a positive turn when his lifelong hero, Chuck Norris, made a surprise visit that uplifted his spirits.

The surprise was orchestrated by Mark’s former boss, who wanted to give him something to smile about during his challenging health journey. Last month, Norris, the martial arts icon and star of Walker, Texas Ranger, visited Mark in person. When Mark saw Norris at the door, he immediately stood up, hugged him, and invited him to sit beside him. It was an emotional and memorable moment.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Mark said of the encounter. “There are good people everywhere trying to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Mark’s Journey and His Love for Chuck Norris

Born in September 1983 with Down syndrome, Mark is the youngest of ten children in the Perry family. Despite the challenges he faced, Mark lived an inspiring life, much like his hero. Thirteen years ago, Mark began idolizing Chuck Norris after watching him play the iconic character Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger.

Mark’s faith and determination have been central to his life. Like his siblings, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working in the Salt Lake Temple cafeteria in 2006. Mark’s dedication to his mission left such a lasting impression that he was invited to stay on after completing his service. He worked there until two months ago, when his cancer diagnosis required him to step away.

Despite the severity of his illness and the increasing strength of his medications, Mark’s family remains committed to keeping him comfortable and surrounded by love.

Chuck Norris’ Visit: A Dream Come True

Chuck Norris and his wife, Gina, were in Utah to film a commercial but made visiting Mark their first priority. The couple drove directly from the airport to Mark’s home. What was expected to be a brief visit turned into a heartfelt half-hour that left a profound impact on Mark and his family.

During the visit, Norris presented Mark with several thoughtful gifts, including an official Texas Ranger badge, a signed book, and autographed copies of Mark’s two dozen Walker, Texas Ranger DVDs. Mark proudly showed off his Total Gym, a product he had admired ever since Norris endorsed it years ago.

Mark’s admiration for Norris stems from the values portrayed in his shows, where “the good guy always wins.” However, it’s not just on-screen heroics that make Norris special to Mark; the visit reinforced the star’s real-life kindness and humility.

A Family’s Gratitude

The Perry family expressed immense gratitude for Norris’ generosity and the joy he brought to Mark. For Mark, whose real-life hero—his father Rick—passed away two years ago, meeting Norris was a deeply meaningful experience.

“This wasn’t about publicity,” said Mark’s family. “He came simply to fulfill someone’s dream.”

Chuck Norris proved once again that he’s a hero both on and off the screen, making a difference in the life of someone who needed it most.