Dolph Lundgren (born Hans Lundgren, November 3, 1957[1]) Swedish actor, director and karateka. Well known for his tall stature and level of fitness, Lundgren stood around 6 ft 5 inches (195cm) and over 240 pounds at his peak.
Dolph Lundgren | |
|---|---|
 Dolph Lundgren in 2007 | |
| Born | Hans Lundgren |
| Died | October 6, 2007 |
| Occupation(s) | Film actor and director |
| Website | http://www.dolphlundgren.com/ |
His breakthrough came when he starred in Rocky IV in 1985 as the imposing Russian boxer Ivan Drago. Since then, he starred in more than 30 pictures, mostly action movies, although his career was at its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he appeared in films such as Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) opposite Brandon Lee and Universal Soldier (1992). Dolph belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris, many of whom he has worked with throughout his career.
Biography
A native of Stockholm, Dolph Lundgren is a graduate of the Royal Institute of Technology. He has a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney (1982), and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983 – but quit after two weeks to pursue acting [2]. He speaks five languages: Swedish, English, German, French, Spanish, some Japanese, and some Italian.[3] He has a younger brother named Johan and two sisters who reside in Sweden.[4]
Lundgren completed his mandatory military service in his native Sweden with the Swedish Navy and Kustjägarna. He left this elite marine unit (Kustjägarna) with the rank of conscript corporal.
Lundgren holds a 3rd Dan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Kyokushin Karate and won the European championships in 1980 and 1981 as well as a heavyweight tournament in Australia in 1982 [5]. He was also captain of the Swedish Kyokushin Karate team, and was a formidable challenger at the 1979 World Open Tournament (arranged by the Kyokushin Karate Organization) when he was only a green belt.[citation needed]
Lundgren was selected to serve as the Team Leader of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Modern pentathlon Team during the Atlanta Games where he coordinated planning and other details between the team and the United States Olympic Committee. He is actively involved in promoting the image of the sport. "Over the past few years, my involvement with modern pentathlon has grown from pure interest to an opportunity to raise the visibility of the sport, increase recruitment of young talent and make sure that this event, originated by the founder of the Olympics, Baron de Coubertin, will remain in the Games," Lundgren has said.[6]
Film career
In 1985, Lundgren made his feature-film debut in the James Bond film A View to a Kill briefly as a suited KGB henchman named Venz. Then he beat 5000 other hopefuls to land the breakthrough role of Ivan Drago, Sylvester Stallone's opponent in Rocky IV (1985). As he stated himself, he was initially turned down for the role, because he was too tall. [7] In order to improve his physique and athletic abilities for the role of Ivan Drago, he began to train intensely in bodybuilding and boxing shortly before the film was shot.
In a January 2008 interview on movie news site, Aint It Cool, Sylvester Stallone said of Lundgren: "During Rocky IV, Dolph had hit me so hard I had swelling around the heart and had to stay in intensive care at St. John’s Hospital for four days." This answer was in relation to a question on Lundgren losing a real boxing match to former UFC fighter Oleg Taktarov.
He received his first lead role as He-Man in Masters of the Universe (1987), based on the popular children's Mattel toys, although the film was not the expected success. Lundgren however found his calling in action films. He starred as a reformed Spetsnaz in Red Scorpion, and then as Marvel comics character Frank Castle aka The Punisher, in the 1989 film The Punisher. In the 1990s he starred in action films such as Showdown in Little Tokyo (co-starring Brandon Lee), Universal Soldier (co-starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and directed by Roland Emmerich), Joshua Tree (directed by stunt legend Vic Armstrong), Men Of War (scripted by John Sayles), Johnny Mnemonic (directed by artist Robert Longo), Silent Trigger (directed by Russell Mulcahy) and the TV pilot Blackjack (directed by John Woo).
In recent years, Lundgren has appeared in low-budget direct-to-video films. In 2004 he has made his directorial debut with the film The Defender also co-starring Jerry Springer. Subsequently Lundgren directed The Mechanik (a.k.a. The Russian Specialist in the US). He then co-starred alongside Max von Sydow, F. Murray Abraham and Ornella Muti in the historical/biblical film The Inquiry, awaiting for release (by Fox Faith), and recently starred in Diamond Dogs, an action adventure set and filmed in Mongolia. Lundgren also completed Missionary Man, a modern western that he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in.
Reports of over-billing
Dolph has often been the victim of over-billing. His IQ has frequently been listed at 160 and that he is fluent in five or six languages. Dolph has expressed that both are inaccurate; although he does speak this number of languages, he is not fluent in them all.
According to various interviews, Lundgren is between 6'4" and 6'5" in height and not the 6'6" he is often billed and weighs between 230 and 240 pounds. As the character 'Ivan Drago' in Rocky IV, Lundgren was billed at 261 pounds but at the time weighed about 245 pounds. Lundgren beat out Franco Bocchimuzzo, who once played tight end to Michael Strahan, for the part of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.
Other
Dolph did a Japanese television commercial for Swatch watches. He played opposite famous small man Danny DeVito. The popular commercial ran on Japanese television for 18 months.
Dolph claims to have turned down a part in Gladiator[citation needed].
Personal life
During the early 1980s he dated singer Grace Jones. He has been married to Anette Qviberg, a jewelry designer and fashion stylist, since 1994. The couple spends their time between their new home in London and Marbella. They have two daughters: Ida Sigrid Lundgren (born April 1996) and Greta Eveline Lundgren (born January 2002)
Filmography
Director
| Year | Movie | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Defender | |
| 2005 | The Mechanik (The Russian Specialist) | |
| 2007 | Diamond Dogs (replacement director) | |
| 2007 | Missionary Man |
Actor
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | A View to a Kill | Venz |
| 1985 | Rocky IV | Ivan Drago |
| 1987 | Masters of the Universe | He-Man |
| 1988 | Red Scorpion | Lt. Nikolai Rachenko |
| 1989 | The Punisher | Frank Castle/The Punisher |
| 1990 | I Come in Peace (Dark Angel) | Jack Caine |
| 1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Police Sgt. Chris Kenner |
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | Sgt. Andrew Scott/GR13 |
| 1993 | Joshua Tree (Army Of One) | Wellman Anthony Santee |
| 1994 | Sunny Side Up | Himself |
| 1994 | Pentathlon | Eric Brogar |
| 1994 | Men of War | Nick Gunar |
| 1995 | Johnny Mnemonic | Karl Honig (Street Preacher) |
| 1995 | The Shooter (Hidden Assassin) | Michael Dane |
| 1996 | Silent Trigger | Waxman (Shooter) |
| 1997 | The Peacekeeper | Major Frank Cross |
| 1998 | The Minion | Lukas Sadorov |
| 1998 | Sweepers | Christian Erickson |
| 1998 | Blackjack (TV) | Jack Devlin |
| 1999 | Bridge of Dragons | Warchild |
| 1999 | Storm Catcher | Jack Holloway |
| 2000 | Jill Rips (Jill The Ripper) | Matt Sorenson |
| 2000 | The Last Patrol | Captain Nick Preston |
| 2000 | Agent Red | Matt Hendricks |
| 2001 | Hidden Agenda | Jason Price |
| 2003 | Detention | Sam Decker |
| 2004 | Direct Action | Frank Gannon |
| 2004 | Fat Slags | Randy |
| 2004 | Retrograde (film) | John Foster |
| 2004 | The Defender | Lance Rockford |
| 2005 | The Mechanik (The Russian Specialist) | Nikolai Cherenko |
| 2006 | The Inquiry (The Final Inquiry) | Brixos |
| 2007 | Diamond Dogs | Xander Ronson |
| 2007 | Missionary Man | Ryder |
Cultural references
- Dolph Lundgren was satirized in an article by The Onion in 2004, titled "Dolph Lundgren Wins Long, Courageous Battle Against Fame"
- Metalcore band Will Haven released a song named Dolph Lundgren on their album Carpe Diem.
References
- ^ "Dolph Lundgren". NNDB. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "Dolph Lundgren". Talent Development Resources. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ Questions and answers: Dolph Lundgren
- ^ Questions and answers: Dolph Lundgren
- ^ "DOLPH :: Article". DOLPH :: the ultimate guide. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "CHRONICLE". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "Dolph Lundgren Height - how tall". CelebHeights. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher=
External links
