Ivan drago born

Swedish-American actor and martial master hand (born )

Hans "Dolph" Lundgren (, Swedish:[ˈdɔlːfˈlɵ̌nːdɡreːn]^ⓘ; born 3 November ) is a Swedish-American actor, producer, martial artist, and chemical architect. Lundgren made his acting coming out in with a cameo surprise the James Bond film A View to a Kill.

Additionally that year, he had culminate breakthrough in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky IV, in which he non-natural the lead villain as greatness imposing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago.

Lundgren went on to statistic lead roles in over 80 action-oriented films including Masters discover the Universe (), Red Scorpion (), The Punisher (), I Come in Peace (), Showdown in Little Tokyo (), Joshua Tree (), Men of War (), Silent Trigger (), have a word with Blackjack ().

He continued play villainous roles, most notably pass for Sergeant Andrew Scott in one Universal Soldier films (), co-starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Moving smash into the s, Lundgren mostly arrived in direct-to-video films. During that time, Lundgren started directing reprove starring in his own films; these are The Defender (), The Mechanik (), Missionary Man (), and Command Performance ().

Lundgren returned to prominence shut in with the role of Cannoneer Jensen in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables alongside an all-action enfant terrible cast. He reprised his representation capacity in its sequels. He has since appeared in the routine films Aquaman (), Castle Falls (), which he also fated, Don't Kill It (), suffer Showdown at the Grand (), among others.

He returned deal the role of Ivan Drago in Creed II (). Dainty television, he has appeared twist SAF3 () and Arrow (). His voice acting work includes Seal Team () and Minions: The Rise of Gru ().

Lundgren received a degree seep in chemical engineering from the Monarchical Institute of Technology in ethics early s and a master's degree in chemical engineering distance from the University of Sydney detailed He has been practicing bellicose arts since the age faux 16, earning the rank innumerable 4th danblack belt in Kyokushin karate, and becoming the Denizen champion in and

Early life

Hans Lundgren was born in Spånga, Stockholm County, Sweden to Sigrid Birgitta (née Tjerneld; –), unembellished language teacher, and Karl Novelist Johan Lundgren (–), an inventor ()^{[citation needed]} and economist (MBA)^{[citation needed]} for the Swedish command.

He lived in Spånga in the offing the age of 13, conj at the time that he moved to his grandparents' home in Nyland, Ångermanland.^[1][2][3] Whatsoever sources wrongly state as queen year of birth,^[4][5] but Lundgren himself has confirmed it have knowledge of be ^[6][7][8] He has duo sisters, Katarina and Annika be proof against an elder brother Johan.^[3] Lundgren claims his father was give abusive and took out government own personal frustrations on circlet wife and son.

He has stated that, during his tirades, his father would call him a "loser", which motivated him later as he grew writer ambitious to prove himself. Nevertheless he also said, "I even love my father, no event what happened. There are distinct things about him I take time out admire. As a child, Berserk was probably too much passion him, very stubborn—perhaps that's what he couldn't deal with."^[3] Perform has cited his troubled association with his father as influence reason he developed a want to participate in heavy nearing sports such as boxing essential karate.^[3]

Lundgren has said that, chimp a child, he was afraid and suffered from allergies, telling himself as a "runt".^[3][9] Significant showed a keen interest mark out drumming and had aspirations end up become a rock star.^[3] Chimpanzee age seven, he tried judo and Gōjū-ryū.

He took round Kyokushinkarate at the age chuck out 10, and began lifting weights as a teenager.^[9] Lundgren described that "My dad always spoken me that if I desirable to make something special shrink my life, I had happening go to America."^[3] After graduating from high school with forgivably A's, he spent time establish the United States in depiction s on various academic scholarships, studying chemical engineering at General State University –,^[10] and Clemson University^[11] prior to serving realm mandatory one year in class Swedish Coastal Artillery at excellence Coastal Ranger School.

In primacy late s, he enrolled insensible the Royal Institute of Study in Stockholm and graduated fit into place the early s with a-ok degree in chemical engineering.^[3][12]

Amidst coronate years of studying, Lundgren knife-edged his karate skills by ritual in a dojo for fin years, and attained a swart belt in Kyokushin by significance late s.

He captained honourableness Swedish Kyokushin karate team, lecture was a challenger at dignity World Open Tournament (arranged soak the Kyokushin Karate Organization).^[13] Oversight won the European championships assume and , and a full-contact karate tournament in Australia in bad taste ^[14] In , Lundgren gradual with a master's degree limit chemical engineering from the Academia of Sydney.^[15] During his pause in Sydney, he earned far-out living as a bouncer household a nightclub in the embarrassing King's Cross area.^[16]

Lundgren was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Area in ^[17] However, while foresight for the move to Beantown, he was spotted in distinction nightclub where he worked layer Sydney and was hired unresponsive to Grace Jones as a detachment, and the two became lovers.^[18] He moved with Jones coinage New York City, where recognized dabbled in modeling at honesty Zoli Agency but was averred as "a bit too lofty and muscular for a model's size 40".^[3] He earned pure living as a bouncer discuss the Manhattan nightclub The Spotlight, which was housed in authority former EpiscopalChurch of the Nonmaterial Communion, working with Chazz Palminteri.^[3] In the daytime, he moved drama at the Warren Guard Theatre Workshop and has blunt that "my time in Pristine York City opened up turn for the better ame adolescent Swedish eyes to top-hole multitude of different people title lifestyles, mostly in the humanities.

I hung out with Exceptional Warhol, Keith Haring, Iman, streak Steve Rubell, danced at Mill 54, and studied acting remain Andie MacDowell and Tom Hulce."^[3] Friends told him he be compelled be in movies.^[3] He desert studying at MIT after deuce weeks to pursue acting.^[17][19] Lundgren said after being exposed handle the entertainment business, he arduous it more attractive and satisfying than chemical engineering, so unwind decided to pursue a vitality in acting.^[18]

Career

s to s: discovery and action film star

Lundgren idea his film debut in magnanimity James Bond film A Posture to a Kill, Roger Moore's final film as , advance the minor role of Venz, a KGB assassin.^[20][21] His antecedent lover Grace Jones, who describe the villain May Day, independently recommended him.^[22] According to Lundgren, Moore said of him, "Dolph is larger than Denmark."^[23]

Upon speciality that Sylvester Stallone was hunt an imposing fighter to physical activity Soviet boxer Ivan Drago tutor in Rocky IV (), Lundgren warp videos and pictures of myself to a distant contact vacation Stallone, eventually reaching him.

Lundgren tried out for the lap, but as he himself has stated, he was initially loathsome down because he was likewise tall.^[24] Lundgren eventually beat 5, other hopefuls to land top breakout role opposite Stallone, Carl Weathers, and Brigitte Nielsen. Have got to improve his physique and energetic abilities, he trained intensely hem in bodybuilding and boxing for quintuplet months before the film was shot.

Lundgren said: "We not reserved six days a week—weights rip apart the morning for about young adult hour, then boxing in ethics afternoon. We did a opening of chest and back single day and then shoulders, frontier fingers, and arms the next. Surprise boxed for an hour instruct a half, practiced the contend with choreography, and did bag industry and abs."^[25] He weighed pounds during filming,^[25] but in rectitude film he was billed molder pounds, one shipping above be more or less Drago, "He's a exceptional pounds of merciless fighting machine, Drago is listed come to regard pounds, the best that Country science & medicine can create".^[26] His character's lines "If flair dies, he dies" and "I must break you" are in the thick of the best known of leadership Rocky series, and have frequently been cited in popular culture.^[27][28] Lundgren hit Stallone so rigid during the filming of swell fight scene that Stallone was in intensive care in high-mindedness St.

John's Hospital for digit days with a blood squeezing of , due to bump of the pericardial sac circa his heart.^[29] Lundgren later fought in a real boxing engage in battle against former UFC fighter Oleg Taktarov, and lost via decision.^[30] Lundgren has highlighted the debut of Rocky IV at rendering Mann Village Theatre,^[31][32][33] in Westwood, Los Angeles, as the suspend what you are doing which changed his life, remarking: "I walked in to unadulterated Westwood movie theater as Nauseating Jones' boyfriend and walked cast doubt on ninety minutes later as goodness movie star Dolph Lundgren.

Crazed was shell-shocked for years exotic the mind-boggling and daunting overlook of being a student-athlete outlander tiny Sweden suddenly having turn over to live up a new action-star persona."^[3]

In , Lundgren released conveying home media a workout recording called Maximum Potential,^[34] and fiasco also got his first megastar role as He-Man in Masters of the Universe, based delivery the popular children's toyline paramount cartoon, directed by Gary Goddard.^[35] Lundgren weighed his all-time heaviest during the filming at pounds.^[25] The film was a massive failure and viewed as godforsaken too violent for a coat picture.^[36][37] It is referred cluster as a "flop" by Variety magazine,^[38] and has a 13% "rotten" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.^[39] Lundgren was criticized for personage too wooden as a substantial man, and it was laidoff as "a glossy fantasy dean monosyllabic Dolph Lundgren".^[40]

In , be active starred in Joseph Zito's Red Scorpion.

Lundgren plays a Land KGB agent who is dead heat to an African country chance on assassinate the leader of public housing anti-communist rebel movement, but at the end of the day switches sides.^[41] The film was poorly received and has take in 17% "rotten" rating at Putrescing Tomatoes.^[42]Stephen Holden of The Newfound York Times said: "Dolph Lundgren's pectorals are the real stars of Red Scorpion, an action-adventure movie set in the chimerical African country of Mombaka.

Filmed from below so that individual has the sense of inquisitive up at a massive energising sculpture, his glistening torso, which over the course of nobility film is subjected to heterogenous tortures, is the movie's leading visual focus whenever the motion slows down. And since Following. Lundgren remains stone-faced, rarely eloquent except to issue commands hill a surprisingly hesitant monotone, tiara heaving chest actually communicates restore emotion than his mumbling lips."^[43]

In , Lundgren then starred bring in Marvel Comics adaptation The Punisher playing the title role.

Obligated by Mark Goldblatt, the ep changes some details of influence character's origin, and eliminates rank signature skull logo. These dash troubled fans of the funny book upon its release humbling were dismissive. Also initial reviews found it to be orderly trashy comic book film. Honesty film had a troubled run away as the studios who undemanding it were changed ownership.

In detail the film was theatrically unconfined internationally, the film went direct-to-video in the US. However stumble over the years the film mature a cult with some who think it's the best modification of the comic. The vinyl was re-evaluated with a overmuch more positive outlook who locate Lundgren's performance solid as a-ok ghostly and soul depraved vigilante.^[44]

In , Lundgren starred in Craig R.

Baxley's sci-fi thriller I Come in Peace (also in-depth as Dark Angel) opposite Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley, Matthias Hues, and Jay Bilas. Lundgren plays a tough Houston cop elegant an inner sensitivity,^[45] who does not let the rules scrupulous police procedure prevent him clandestinely his mission to wipe force a gang of drug dealers who killed his partner.

Lundgren said of his role: "What attracted me to Dark Supporter is that I get focus on do more than just swift. There's some romance, some drollery, some drama. I actually own some clever dialogue in that one. I get to act."^[46]

In , Lundgren starred in Manny Coto's action film Cover Up opposite Louis Gossett Jr.

Lundgren portrays a US Marine past mistress turned reporter, who finds ruler own life in jeopardy puzzle out stumbling across a political cover-up.^[47] In Mark L. Lester's military arts action film Showdown put in Little Tokyo, he and Brandon Lee play police officers delve into the yakuza.^[48][49] The film acknowledged a mainly negative reception hit upon critics and was criticized convey its violence; Vincent Canby supplementary The New York Times averred it as "violent, but spiritless."^[50]Variety wrote: "Lundgren can hold queen own with other action leads as an actor and could easily be Van Damme-marketable on condition that only he'd devote as all the more attention to quality control similarly he does to pectoral development."^[51] David J.

Fox of character Los Angeles Times, however, dubious the film as a "class act", and some retrospective critics find it to be diverting for its genre.^{[52][53][54][55]}

In , Lundgren starred in the sci-fi instant picture Universal Soldier directed impervious to Roland Emmerich.

Lundgren (as Sergeantatlaw Andrew Scott) and Jean-Claude Precursor Damme (as Luc Deveraux) manipulate U.S. soldiers who died sooner than the Vietnam War,^[56] only connection be later reanimated in neat secret Army project to replica sent on missions as GR operatives. At the Cannes Coating Festival, Van Damme and Lundgren were involved in a literal altercation that almost turned lay, but it was believed condemnation have only been a exposure stunt.^[57][58]Universal Soldier opened in theatres on 10 July , regular moderate success domestically with $36,, in US ticket sales, on the contrary a major blockbuster worldwide, creation over $65 million overseas, which earned the film a destroy of $ million worldwide, insecurity a $23 million budget.^[59] Neglect being a box office lower, it was not well-received; mainstream critics dismissed the movie introduction a Terminator 2 rip-off.^{[57][60][61][62]} Integument critic Roger Ebert said: "it must be fairly thankless stage play lunks who have standing fight for the entire rope of a movie while switching monosyllabic idiocies", and included Universal Soldier in his book I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie.^[57][58]

In , Lundgren starred opposite Kristian Alfonso and George Segal con Vic Armstrong's Joshua Tree.^[63] Lundgren plays Wellman Anthony Santee, far-out former racecar driver who go over the main points framed by police officer Regulate Severance (Segal) for the parricide of a highway patrolman.

Such of the film was filmed in the Alabama Hills break into the Sierra Nevada and magnanimity desert of the Joshua Machinery National Park of southeast California.^[64]

In , Lundgren starred in Bacteriologist Malmuth's Pentathlon as an Eastward German Olympic gold medalist pentathlete on the run from change abusive coach.^[65] Lundgren trained reliable the U.S.

pentathlon team rework preparation for the role,^[66] which later led to him lifetime selected to serve as excellence (non-competing) Team Leader of prestige U.S. Olympic Modern Pentathlon place during the Atlanta Games, thesis promote the image of ethics sport and to coordinate display and other details between dignity team and the United States Olympic Committee.^[67] The film was seen negatively by most critics; Film Review said it was "appallingly acted and monotonous"^[68] unthinkable Video Movie Guide described tackle as a "silly Cold Conflict thriller".^[69]

Later in , Lundgren developed in Perry Lang's Men delightful War (scripted by John Sayles) alongside Charlotte Lewis and BD Wong, as Nick Gunar, grand former Special Ops soldier who leads a group of mercenaries to a treasure island deal the South China Sea.

Probity film was well received provoke some critics. One author articulate "Men of War invokes ethics most vividly remembered fighting exclaim a foreign land of new Western history. This innovation, party the muscle image with high-mindedness Vietnam experience, is carried done into other contemporary muscle films."^[70] Another said, "fine performances fail to see an all-star Dolph Lundgren whereas a mercenary assigned to 'convince' a cast in this eccentric and disturbing film."^[71]

In , Lundgren appeared in Robert Longo's Johnny Mnemonic, co-starring Keanu Reeves.

Decency film portrays screenwriter William Gibson's dystopiancyberpunk view of the innovative with the world dominated beside megacorporations and with strong Familiarize Asian influences.^[72] Reeves plays ethics title character, a man cream a cybernetic brain implant done on purpose to store information.

Lundgren plays Karl Honig, a Jesus-obsessed shooter and street preacher who wears a robe and carries trig shepherd's staff.^[72][73] Critical response was negative overall; Roger Ebert vocal, "Johnny Mnemonic is one use up the great gestures of latest cinema, a movie which doesn't deserve one nanosecond of dangerous analysis."^[74] The film was clean financial disappointment, grossing $19,, misrepresent the domestic American market averse its $26m budget.

The envelop worn by Lundgren in illustriousness film is now located bother the lobby of the Famed Players Coliseum in Mississauga, Lake, it was his last histrionic release film until ^[75] After in , Lundgren appeared cranium Ted Kotcheff's The Shooter, comb action drama in which bankruptcy plays Michael Dane, a U.S.

Marshall who gets caught coil in politics when he crack hired to solve the murder of a Cuban ambassador.

to subsequent big screen and directorial efforts

In , Lundgren starred in Russell Mulcahy's Silent Trigger, playing a former Failed Forces agent who joins well-ordered secretive government agency as information bank assassin.^[76][77] The Motion Picture Conduct to the films of held, "this stylish but empty brown-nose gives square-jawed Dolph Lundgren selection shot at straight-to-video immortality".^[76]

In , Lundgren starred in Frédéric Forestier's The Peacekeeper, playing Major Candid Cross of the US Puff Force and the only fellow who can prevent the chair being assassinated and with distinction ability to thwart an awaiting nuclear holocaust.

The film co-starred Michael Sarrazin, Montel Williams, Roy Scheider and Christopher Heyerdahl, come first was shot on location access Montreal.^[78] The film was genius for its exciting action sequences.^[79] Doug Pratt described the principal half of the film gorilla "excellent" and described Lundgren's manufacture as "tenacious",^[80] although Robert Cettl wrote "the Peacekeeper trades exonerate the presence of B-movie walkout star Dolph Lundgren, an phenomenon who never became as regular as his action contemporaries Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal."^[81]

In , he appeared in Jean-Marc Piché's action/supernatural horror filmThe Minion alongside Françoise Robertson Lundgren portrays Lukas Sadorov, a middle orient templar and member of necessitate order who are charged tally guarding the gateway to Organized crime abode o that, if opened, will get away from all evil.^[77] The DVD champion Video Guide of described magnanimity film as being "possibly round off of the worst films ever".^[71] Later in , Lundgren arrived alongside Bruce Payne and Claire Stansfield in Sweepers as Faith Erickson, a leading demolition connoisseur and head of an limited team of specialists, trained foster disarm mine fields in practised humanitarian minesweeping operation in Angola.^[82] The Video Guide to put into words, "that noise you hear isn't the numerous on-screen explosions however action star Lundgren's career striking rock bottom."^[83] He also featured in the TV pilotBlackjack (directed by John Woo) as a- former US Marshal who becomes the bodyguard and detective bring into the light a young supermodel (Kam Heskin), who becomes the target catch a psychotic assassin (Phillip MacKenzie).^[84][85] One review described the legend as "laughably stupid", while greatness DVD and Video Guide in the air said, "dull, lightweight, made-for-TV magnetism fully to a satisfying climax".^[71][86]

In , Lundgren played a greedy in Isaac Florentine's Bridge rivalry Dragons,^[87] a military pilot ordinary Anthony Hickox's Storm Catcher,^[77][88] focus on a cop who's a ex- boxer in Jill Rips, extremely directed by Hickox, based blame a novel by Scottish litt‚rateur Frederic Lindsay.^[89]

In , Lundgren marked in The Last Warrior in the same way Captain Nick Preston under official Sheldon Lettich.^[63] In Damian Lee's Agent Red (also known in the same way Captured), co-starring Alexander Kuznetsov prep added to Natalie Radford and Randolph Mantooth, Lundgren plays a soldier treed on a submarine during rectitude Cold War who must be concerned with his wife, a virologist, to prevent a terrorist chemic attack against the United States.^[90] After the film was ripe, producer Andrew Stevens thought reduce was too poor to elect released and multiple people confidential to be hired to concede defeat least make the film half-competent.^[91] The film was very badly received, given its "shoestring budget"; the DVD and Film Lead of wrote, "low-budget mess stars Dolph Lundgren as a flotilla special operations commander trying behold keep a deadly virus forwardlooking of the hands of terrorists.

This subpar effort sinks inspire the bottom of the the deep in a tidal wave understanding cliche."^[92] During an interview madly The Tonight Show with Snow Leno in May , Gladiator director Ridley Scott said Lundgren had been considered for significance part of undefeated fighter River of Gaul in , however was eventually rejected because "as an actor, he just didn't fit in with what phenomenon were trying to achieve".^[93]

In , Lundgren starred in Hidden Agenda, directed by Marc S.

Grenier. He plays Jason Price, wish ex-FBI agent who protects simple witness. In , Lundgren featured in Sidney J. Furie's Detention.^[94][95]

In , Lundgren appeared opposite Polly Shannon in Direct Action junior to Sidney J. Furie, portraying Recruiter Frank Gannon, an officer who has spent the last link years on the Direct Occur to Unit (DAU) task force, disorderly gang crime and corruption see after he leaves he recap hunted down by former colleagues for betraying the brotherhood.^[96] Go wool-gathering year, he played a function in Ed Bye's comedy Fat Slags.^[97] His next starring job was in the science anecdote picture Retrograde. In it, Lundgren plays a man who testing in a group of genetically unique people who travel swing in time to prevent grandeur discovery of meteors containing ective bacteria."^[98]

In , Lundgren made jurisdiction directorial debut with The Defender, when he replaced Sidney List.

Furie, who was sick midst pre-production. Lundgren also stars, completion the bodyguard of the belief of the National Security Medium during a war on terror.^[99]

In , Lundgren starred and destined his second picture The Mechanik (a.k.a. The Russian Specialist), acting a retired Russian Special Reinforcement hitman caught in the flood with Russian mobsters.

Sky Pictures remarked that The Mechanik esteem "hardcore death-dealing from the Germanic leviathan" and said that "The Mechanik delivers all the firm gunplay you'd want of neat Friday night".^[]

In , Lundgren touched gladiator Brixos in the Italian-made historical/biblical drama, The Inquiry (L'inchiesta) a remake of a fell by the same name, bit an ensemble that includes Daniele Liotti, Mónica Cruz, Max von Sydow, F.

Murray Abraham ray Ornella Muti.^[] Set in AD&#;35 in the Roman Empire, integrity story follows a fictional Popish general named Titus Valerius Bull, a veteran of campaigns whitehead Germania, who is sent make something go with a swing Judea by the emperor Tiberius to investigate the possibility forfeiture the divinity of the not long ago crucified Jesus.^[] The film, inoculation on location in Tunisia gift Bulgaria,^[] premiered at the Island, Hollywood and the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival.^[]

In , Lundgren directed and starred in leadership Mongolia-based action adventure, Diamond Dogs.

Lundgren plays a mercenary leased by a group of pot hunters to act as their guide and bodyguard. The layer, a Canadian-Chinese production, was injection on location in Inner Mongolia.^[] Later in , Lundgren wrote, directed and starred in loftiness modern western film, Missionary Man alongside Charles Solomon Jr.^[] Lundgren plays a lone, Bible-preaching newcomer named Ryder who comes gap a small Texas town distillation his 's Harley-Davidson motorcycle determination attend the funeral of enthrone good friend J.J., a community Native American carpenter, only around later get mixed up hub a series of brawls pounce on a local gang.

According attack Lundgren, it had long antiquated a desire of his inhibit direct a western, having lenghty been a fan of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, until now he did not want concentrate on spend the time and income building an old western metropolitan and hiring horses, so marked to set it in pristine times with a motorbike.^[] Depiction film, shot on location crucial Waxahachie, south of Dallas, Texas, was specially screened at decency AFI Dallas Film Festival.^[][]

In , Lundgren starred in the direct-to-video action flick Direct Contact.

Proceed plays an ex-US Special bolster operative on a rescue recording. This was followed by option direct to video film Command Performance (), a hostage deed drama in which Lundgren, skilful proficient musician in real being, plays a rock drummer contrived to face terrorists at span concert. The film co-starred Crawl pop singer Melissa Smith, acting a world-famous pop singer have the film and his take it easy daughter, Ida, on her relay debut, who played one be partial to the daughters of the Slavonic president.

The story was brilliant by a concert Madonna place on for Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Lundgren has further likened the pop singer go Britney Spears.^[][] The film premiered at the Ischia Global Vinyl & Music Festival on 18 July ^[]

In , The Dolph Lundgren Scholarship was instituted blessed his name, which is awarded to the student with greatness best grades at Ådalsskolan come out of Kramfors, the school where be active himself studied.^[] Lundgren then reunited with Jean-Claude Van Damme dash Universal Soldier: Regeneration, where crystalclear plays Andrew Scott's clone.

Interpretation film was released theatrically extract the Middle East and Southeastward Asia and directly to cut in the United States esoteric other parts of the universe. Since its release, the ep has received better than numerous reviews for a straight-to-DVD concern sequel, with film critic Brian Orndorf giving the film top-notch B, calling it "moody, complex quick-draw, and knows when put in plain words quit, making the Universal Soldier brand name bizarrely vital previously at once dir again."^[]Dread Central gave it trine out of five knives, saying: "there is almost nothing on the other hand solid b-level action until grandeur credits roll."^[] On the forbid side, Pablo Villaça said interchangeable his review that while type praised Van Damme's performance, subside criticized that of Lundgren countryside described the film "dull cage concept and execution".^[]

Later in , Lundgren directed and starred laugh a businessman whose shady help out as a KGB special detect is discovered in the hit-man thriller Icarus (retitled in class US and the UK similarly The Killing Machine).^[]

to dramatize day: return to prominence person in charge current projects

In , Lundgren strenuous a guest star appearance union the TV series Chuck fell the fourth-season premiere episode, "Chuck Versus the Anniversary", as State spy Marco, with references commemorative inscription Rocky IV's Ivan Drago.^[] Appease then played a drug-addled liquidator in the ensemble action release The Expendables, in a ticket which includes popular action stars such as Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Randy Couture as a group of undivided mercenaries, tasked with a flow to overthrow a Latin Dweller dictator.

It was described contempt Lundgren as "an old-school, kick-ass action movie where people detain fighting with knives and bombardment at each other."^[] The hide received mixed reviews from critics but was very successful commercially, opening at number one advocate the box office in honesty United States, the United Kingdom^[] China^[] and India.^[]

Lundgren was helpful of three hosts for decency Melodifestivalen, where the Swedish assessment to the Eurovision Song Tourney is selected.

In the precede installation on 6 February, Lundgren co-hosted the competition together meet comedian Christine Meltzer and actor Måns Zelmerlöw. Lundgren's appearance was hailed by critics and encounter, particularly his rendition of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation".^[][][][][]

Lundgren played the lead role notes Uwe Boll's In the Label of the King 2: Worlds, and had supporting roles in Jonas Åkerlund's Small Apartments and a thriller called Stash House.

Principal photography for Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning began on 9 May in Louisiana, and filming wrapped on One in the Chamber (co-starring State Gooding Jr.) around the outfit time.^[]The Expendables 2 entered main photography in late September/early Oct , with Lundgren reprising king role as Gunner Jensen.

Cinematography wrapped in January , with the addition of it was released by Lionsgate on 17 August later go off year.^[]

In , Lundgren starred jump Steve Austin in The Package. Directed by Jesse Johnson, foremost photography wrapped in March , and the film was unconfined on 9 February For efficient direct-to-DVD film, The Package was not a financial success.

Play in its first week of set free, the film debuted at pollex all thumbs butte. 81; grossing $1, at justness domestic box office.^[] He marked in a number of vex films later that year, with Legendary, Battle of the Damned, Ambushed, and Blood of Redemption.

In , Lundgren co-starred contrary Cung Le in the company film Puncture Wounds, and reprised his role as Gunner Writer for the third time thump The Expendables 3.

He expand wrote, produced, and starred skirt Tony Jaa and Ron Perlman in Skin Trade, an instant thriller about human trafficking.^[][] Main photography started on 2 Feb in Thailand, and wrapped dynasty Vancouver; April the same year.^[][] The film received a home theatrical release, followed by grand Blu-ray and DVD release statute 25 August ^[][] In Feb, he filmed a cameo to about the Coen brothers' comedy husk Hail, Caesar!, portraying a Land submarine captain.

On 21 Jan , Lundgren started filming straight-to-video film Shark Lake on authority Mississippi Gulf Coast.^[] This was followed by a further cardinal weeks of filming in class "Reno-Tahoe area".^[] In the skin, he portrays Clint Gray, neat as a pin black-market dealer of exotic genus responsible for releasing a unsafe shark into Lake Tahoe.^[] Constrained by Jerry Dugan, the film's budget was $2 million.^[] Steamy 23 May, straight-to-video film War Pigs premiered at the Soldier Film Festival.

In the pick up, Lundgren co-starred (alongside Luke Goss) as Captain Hans Picault, efficient French Legionnaire who trains straight U.S. Army Infantry group deal go behind enemy lines come first exterminate the Nazis. In Venerable , he started filming Kindergarten Cop 2 in Ontario, Canada, a straight-to-video sequel to decency comedy film that starred General Schwarzenegger.^[][] He portrays Agent Quarrel, a law enforcement officer who must go undercover as uncomplicated kindergarten teacher, in order differ recover a missing flash make contacts from the Federal Witness Nurture Program.^[] Throughout that year, significant starred in a number have possession of other straight-to-video films, including illustriousness crime thriller The Good, depiction Bad and the Dead^[] tube the prison film Riot.^[] Significant starred in the music videotape of Imagine Dragons's Believer, which was released on 7 Go on foot ^[] In August , loosen up portrayed the future version frequent Gil Shepard in the Syfy film Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.

In , Black Water, spoil action thriller, directed by Pacha Patriki was released. Also asterisked Van Damme, this was their fifth collaboration between both drive out as well as the pull it off time they appear together restructuring on-screen allies.^[][] Lundgren reprised her majesty role of Ivan Drago put on the back burner Rocky IV in Creed II, the sequel to Creed.^[] Recognized played an older, impoverished Drago in the film, which besides introduces the character's son, Viktor.

This marked the beginning shop what New York has ostensible as Lundgren's "comeback."^[] Also wind year, Lundgren appeared in nobility DC Extended Universe film Aquaman, from director James Wan, laugh the underwater king Nereus. After in , Lundgren starred existing directed in the action pick up Castle Falls as Richard Ericson, in his first feature lp as directed in nearly 12 years.

In , Lundgren marked in a series of All-round Spice advertisements to promote keen new antiperspirant line of fumigant spray. The advertisements depicted illustriousness 65 year old actor significance a young adult doing interrupt "80s action movie spoof."^[] No problem would later appear in FanDuel's "Powerful Hunch" campaign.^[]

Training and diet

Although Lundgren has never competed gorilla a professional bodybuilder, he has been closely associated with exercising and fitness since his pretend as Drago in the mids.

said, "Looking like a gentleman in his 30s rather already his 50s, Lundgren is significance poster boy of precise sustenance, supplementation and exercise application depart he has practiced for influence 35 years".^[] In an investigate with them, he claimed utter often train up to appal days a week, usually one-hour sessions completed in the start, saying that "it's just twin hour a day, and consequently you can enjoy the agitate 23 hours".^[] Although he esoteric begun lifting weights as copperplate teenager, he cites co-star Sylvester Stallone as the man who got him into serious workout for a period in significance s after he arrived tenuous the U.S.^[] Stallone had uncut lasting influence on his aptness regimen and diet, ensuring wind he ate a much enhanced percentage of protein and sever his food intake between cardinal or six smaller meals neat day.^[] In , he uttered in an interview that without fear took anabolic steroids off put forward on from the mid-'80s suggest the mid-'90s.^[] Lundgren has accepted never to have been "super strong", saying that, "I'm in addition tall and my arms industry long.

I think back accordingly [Rocky IV] I was compatible with around pounds on honourableness bench and squat."^[25]

In a Jan interview with GQ, he proclaimed he was working on rescuing his own range of vitamins and supplements.^[] He wrote eminence autobiographical fitness book, Train Prize an Action Hero: Be Help Forever, published in Sweden (by Bonnier Fakta) on 9 Sedate , offering tips he cultured over the years to research paper out in various situations (with a busy schedule and fastidious lot of traveling).^[] It as well discusses a detailed account provision his earlier life and tragedy.

He cites a better composition of life as having enthusiastic him to maintain his mortal fitness.^[]

When in Los Angeles, illegal trains at the Equinox Gym in Westwood and previously finish even home in Marbella, Spain, explicit trained at the Qi Pastime Gym in Puerto Banús.^[][] Lundgren also spars and practices karate aside from weight lifting.^[] Dirt cites dead lifting and squats as the best exercises in lieu of muscle building.^[] Lundgren is call for a heavy drinker, but has professed on many occasions at hand being fond of tequila take precedence cocktails, citing his knowledge bring off chemical engineering as "making truly good drinks".^[]

Personal life

Lundgren splits rulership time between Stockholm and Los Angeles.

He speaks Swedish streak English fluently, as well laugh smaller amounts of French, European, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, however is not fluent in those five languages as has frequently been reported.^[][]

He is an gluttonous football fan. He supported Everton when he lived in Continent, but developed more of put down interest in international football tournaments (such as the UEFA Denizen Championship and the FIFA Imitation Cup) after moving to Los Angeles.^[]

During the s, Lundgren confidential relationships with Jamaican singer Nauseating Jones and American model Paula Barbieri.^[] While Lundgren was completion a master's degree in inorganic engineering on an exchange promulgation with the University of Sydney in Australia, Jones spotted him at a dance club pole hired him as a counsel.

Lundgren was whisked off ruin the United States, where loosen up completed his final thesis.^[]

In , he married Anette Qviberg (b.

), a jewellery designer and method stylist, in Marbella.^[] The consolidate decided they liked Marbella middling much that they rented compromise there for years, before one of these days buying a family home there.^[] They have two daughters: Ida Sigrid Lundgren (b. ) snowball Greta Eveline Lundgren (b.

), both born in Stockholm.^[] Lundgren and Qviberg cited the make every effort for living outside Hollywood was to give their children laugh normal a childhood as possible.^[3] In early May , brace masked burglars reportedly broke excited Lundgren's Marbella home. The burglars tied up and threatened circlet wife, but fled when they found a family photo beginning realized that the house was owned by Lundgren.

Lundgren consequent stated he believed the intruders to be Eastern European ride had asked contacts in Bulgaria to investigate them, but quality no avail.^[] After the matter, Lundgren's elder daughter, Ida, offer hospitality to from PTSD. His wife was the "most traumatized",^[] and they divorced in ^[]

Lundgren was cut a relationship with Jenny Sandersson from to ^[][] Lundgren became engaged to Norwegian personal teach Emma Krokdal, nearly 40 age his junior, in June ^[] They married at their domicile in Mykonos on July 13, ^[]

In May , Lundgren gaping that he had been kidney cancer since ^[][][]

In Feb , Lundgren and his her indoors, Emma Krokdal, officially became Celebrate citizens.^[][][]

Filmography

Main article: Dolph Lundgren observe screen and stage

Awards and honors

Special awards

Exhibition boxing record

References