‘Rocky’ Star Dolph Lundgren Reveals He has Beaten Cancer After Being Given 2 Years to Live

Dolph Lundgren has beaten many tough and deadly opponents on screen, but his biggest victory has come in real life, as the Rocky and Expendables star has revealed that he is cancer-free after battling the disease for almost a decade. However, what makes this even more incredible is that the 67-year-old action star was given just two to three years to live in 2020.

Sharing a new video from his hospital bed where he was having what he believes to be the last cancer cells removed, the actor shared a message of hope and gratitude for the support he has received since he went public about his fight in 2023. He said in the video:

“Alright, here I am [at] UCLA, about to go in and get rid of that last tumor — and, since there are no cancer cells in my body anymore, I guess I’ll be cancer-free, so I’m looking forward to this procedure. Yeah, it’s been a rough ride and really taught me how to live in the moment and enjoy every moment of life. It’s the only way to go. Alright, they’re coming to get me, see ya!”

Best known for his iconic role as Ivan Drago in the Rocky franchise, none of his fictional bouts in the ring compare to the long and grueling journey that he had been on for this last nine years, mostly in private. Lundgren’s fight against cancer began in 2015 when doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his kidney. After having the tumor removed, he returned to work without making anyone aware of the diagnosis and surgery. In 2020, additional tumors were discovered during a routine check-up. At that time, doctors estimated that he would likely have no more than three years to live.

Dolph Lundgren is a Fighter Both on and Off Screen

The initial diagnosis came as a shock to Lundgren, but he was not about to accept the diagnosis. He sought a second opinion and made a vow to battle the disease with everything he had to throw at it. The new plan devised by new doctors involved a number of surgeries and treatments, including the removal of a tumor “the size of a lemon” from his liver.

What is more remarkable is that during all of this, Lundgren never abandoned his career and commitments. Although he did not release any movies in 2020, he has come back strong with a dozen new movies since 2021, including his fourth appearance in the Expendables franchise in 2023. With four more movies already lined up for 2025, it is clear that Lundgren is still following the message he gave when going public with his cancer diagnosis – that he intends on continuing to live his life to the fullest extent.

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As well as the support of fans, Lundgren’s latest news gained reactions from Terry Crews, Busta Rhymes, and his Expendables co-star Chuck Norris, who commented, “Wonderful news! So happy to hear this, Dolph. God bless.” It goes without saying that we echo the sentiment and wish him a speedy recovery.