Honestly surprised that you never took it up.
If you want to learn/start; chess.com is invaluable. For a modest membership fee you get lessons, puzzles, etc. You can play bots online. The bots start at beginner level and as you advance, you can play more difficult ones. You can also play live games with other folks.
If nothing else, it's a great thing to teach your children.
If you want to learn about an intriguing chess player from the past, look up Paul Morphy on youtube. Fascinating guy, and one of the most elegant strategists the game has ever seen. He revolutionized chess, and honestly, he had zero competition; that's how advanced he was compared to players of his era. There wasn't chess theory then, as it exists today. If he lived today, and had access to "solved" databases and chess engines he'd probably be the GOAT.
The Legend: Paul Morphy