Dolph Lundgren is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer of Swedish origin, famous for his roles in action films of the 1980s and 1990s, as well as a martial arts expert.
Rising to fame in 1985 for his role as Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in “Rocky IV,” Lundgren has appeared in over 50 films and made his directorial debut in 2004. Beyond cinema, he has achieved significant success in other fields: he holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney (1982) and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, Dolph has won the British Open Championship twice (1980, 1981), become the Kyokushin Karate Champion of Australia (1982), and was the captain of the U.S. Olympic Pentathlon team. At his peak, standing 198 cm tall and weighing 120 kg, Lundgren had an outstanding physique and remains a notable figure in bodybuilding.
In recent weeks, the star has kept his 3 million social media followers updated with posts from the USA, Norway, and Italy. However, it seems there is no place like home, as he returned to Sweden. While vacationing in Stockholm, Lundgren was spotted shirtless, showcasing his toned physique.
Since 2023, he has been married to 28-year-old Emma Krokdal, a fitness trainer and the same age as his eldest daughter. Krokdal and Lundgren met in 2019 at the gym where she worked. According to her, she did not initially recognize him as a movie star. In June 2020, he proposed to Krokdal, but their plans were delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Lundgren’s treatment, as he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015.
The actor first spoke about his illness in May 2023. Initially, a tumor was found in his kidney, but after five years, it began to grow, and cancer spread to other organs—his other kidney and liver. Lundgren underwent chemotherapy and lost a significant amount of weight. Soon, doctors in London found tumors in his lungs, stomach, and spine. “I thought it was the end,” the actor confessed, adding that he fell into depression and began preparing his children and fiancée for his death. He had six small tumors removed, followed by therapy that reduced the remaining tumors, which were also removed. Doctors had told him he would live no more than two years, but Dolph not only survived but is living a full life.
While vacationing in Sweden, Lundgren toughened himself up—bathing in cold water. Cold water therapy, by the way, improves circulation and strengthens the immune system. In February 2024, the “Rocky” star and his new wife received U.S. citizenship. The actor explained that his naturalization ceremony occurred 40 years after he moved to the country. “I don’t know if I would want to move back,” he recently said. “I haven’t thought about it, but I like California now. Los Angeles is where I work, and I like the lifestyle; it’s quite liberal, you can be who you want. People don’t care, and they leave you alone. The smaller the place, the tougher the social structure, while in Los Angeles, everyone is a bit eccentric, so I fit in well.”
