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IMDbPro

Dolph Lundgren

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000150
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren, star of the upcoming films 'Aquaman' and 'Creed II,' has had a long career as an action star ever since playing Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV.' "No Small Parts" takes a look at some of his work.
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Dolph Lundgren of 'Aquaman': "No Small Parts" IMDb Exclusive
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Dolph Lundgren was born as Hans Lundgren in Stockholm, Sweden, to Sigrid Birgitta (Tjerneld), a language teacher, and Karl Johan Hugo Lundgren, an engineer and economist for the Swedish government. He lived in Stockholm until the age of 13, when he moved in with his grandparents in Nyland, Ångermanland, Sweden. Despite an early interest in music and the fine arts, Dolph decided to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue an Engineering degree. After having completed his military service, he enrolled at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

It was in the military when Dolph first came in contact with the martial arts. Five years later, he had become a world-class competitor in Japanese Karate and was deeply involved with a discipline that was to become an important part of his life. After graduating High School, Dolph spent considerable time studying in the United States and abroad on various academic scholarships. He attended Washington State University and Clemson University in South Carolina. In 1982, he received a scholarship to complete his Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney, Australia. In 1983, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, one of the world's top engineering schools.

However, that same year, he decided to move to New York City and take up acting. He changed his forename to Dolph. He started studying drama at the Warren Robertson Theatre Workshop in Manhattan, not knowing how quickly his life was about to change. His film debut came in A View to a Kill (1985). However, it was his performance in Rocky IV (1985) later that year that definitely got him noticed. After a 9-month audition process among 5,000 hopefuls, he was cast opposite writer-director Sylvester Stallone, as his Russian opponent, "Ivan Drago". Following the success of Rocky IV (1985), Lundgren moved to Los Angeles and has since starred in more than 30 feature films.

Lundgren portrayed the classic action-heroic lead in such films as Gary Goddard's Masters of the Universe (1987), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) co-starring Brandon Lee and Blackjack (1998), by Hong-Kong action legend, John Woo. Lundgren has also continued to turning in memorable performances as the main adversary to other action-stars, most notably in Universal Soldier (1992) opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme, directed by Roland Emmerich, as well as Robert Longo's Johnny Mnemonic (1995) opposite Keanu Reeves. In February 2004, Lundgren directed his first feature film, the thriller The Defender (2004), in which he also starred. In 2005, he directed and starred in yet another feature, The Russian Specialist (2005) (a.k.a "The Russian Specialist").

In January 2006, he finished principal photography of The Final Inquiry (2006), a joint Italian/American/Spanish co-production, directed by Giulio Base, appearing opposite, among others, Daniele Liotti, Max von Sydow and F. Murray Abraham. In 2006, Lundgren starred in Diamond Dogs (2007), a Chinese/American co-production filmed on location in Mongolia. In 2007, he directed a modern day western shot in Texas, Missionary Man (2007). In 2009, he completed two new directorial efforts, the action-packed Command Performance (2009), which showcases Lundgren's longtime musical talents as a drummer; and the neo-noir thriller Icarus (2010). Lundgren also reunited with co-stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sylvester Stallone for Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009) and the highly anticipated action blockbuster, The Expendables (2010).

Lundgren managed to not let his Hollywood career stand in the way of his athletic background. He has been awarded his Third Degree Black Belt by the World Karate Organization in Tokyo. His accomplishments include being the Captain of the Swedish National Karate Team, as well as a Champion of the Swedish, European and Australian Heavyweight Division titles. Lundgren still regularly performs Karate exhibitions at international tournaments worldwide. In addition, he was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to serve as Team Leader of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Pentathlon Team during the Atlanta Games. He is actively involved in promoting the image of this sport. His production company, Thor Pictures, is developing several projects in which he will produce, star and/or direct. He is also a founding member of "Group of Eight", a New York theater group started in 1994.

Lundgren has reportedly been working on a fitness book and sports wear line for men, the creation and launch of a new eponymous brand, a licensing, media and publishing program, and the development of future entertainment and media projects. Lundgren was married to Anette Qviberg-Lundgren, an interior decorator and fashion designer, until their divorce in 2011. They had two daughters together.
BornNovember 3, 1957
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 3, 1957
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000150
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards

Photos313

Dolph Lundgren in Operation Seawolf (2022)
Dolph Lundgren and Aaron Courteau in Operation Seawolf (2022)
Dolph Lundgren, Cody Fleury, Andrew Stecker, and Luke Steinborn in Operation Seawolf (2022)
Dolph Lundgren, Aaron Courteau, Cody Fleury, Andrew Stecker, and Luke Steinborn in Operation Seawolf (2022)
Dolph Lundgren in Operation Seawolf (2022)
Dolph Lundgren and Ryan Kwanten in Section 8 (2022)
Dolph Lundgren in Section 8 (2022)
Dolph Lundgren and Ryan Kwanten in Section 8 (2022)
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins in Castle Falls (2021)
Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, and Justin B. Wooten in Castle Falls (2021)
Dolph Lundgren in Castle Falls (2021)

Known for

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky IV
6.8
  • Ivan Drago
  • 1985
Dolph Lundgren, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Courteney Cox in Masters of the Universe (1987)
Masters of the Universe
5.3
  • He-Man
  • 1987
Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Johnny Mnemonic
5.6
  • Street Preacher
  • 1995
Universal Soldier (1992)
Universal Soldier
6.1
  • Andrew Scott
  • GR13
  • 1992

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Come Out Fighting
    • Completed
  • The Expendables 4
    • Post-production
  • Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
    • Post-production
  • The Best Man
    • Post-production
  • Hellfire
    • Post-production
  • Wanted Man
    • Post-production
  • Showdown at the Grand
    • Post-production
  • Dolph Lundgren, Frank Grillo, and Hiram A. Murray in Operation Seawolf (2022)
    Operation Seawolf
  • Section 8 (2022)
    Section 8
  • Pierre Coffin in Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
    Minions: The Rise of Gru
    • (voice)
  • Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins in Castle Falls (2021)
    Castle Falls
  • Dolph Lundgren, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rob Schneider, Jerry O'Connell, Tyler Hollinger, and Isadora Swann in Pups Alone (2021)
    Pups Alone
  • Dolph Lundgren, John Kani, Matthew Rhys, Seal, J.K. Simmons, Patrick Warburton, Camille Mana, Kristen Schaal, Sharlto Copley, and Jessie T. Usher in Seal Team (2021)
    Seal Team
    • (voice)
  • Dolph Lundgren in Hard Night Falling (2019)
    Hard Night Falling
  • Dolph Lundgren, Sean Patrick Flanery, Danny Trejo, Chuck Liddell, and Natalie Burn in Acceleration (2019)
    Acceleration
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
  • Dolph Lundgren, Anna Falchi, Bruno Bilotta, Cosimo Fusco, and Marta Gastini in The Tracker (2019)
    The Tracker
  • Jason Momoa and Amber Heard in Aquaman (2018)
    Aquaman
  • Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in Creed II (2018)
    Creed II
  • Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme in Black Water (2018)
    Black Water
  • Challen Cates, Matthew Page, Matt Riedy, Shaun Sipos, Alex Knight, Teri Reeves, and Kennedy Tucker in Broken Sidewalk (2018)
    Broken Sidewalk
  • Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, and Cassandra Scerbo in Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017)
    Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

Producer

  • Wanted Man
    • Post-production
  • Direct to Dolph: An American Dream
    • Post-production
  • Section 8 (2022)
    Section 8
  • Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins in Castle Falls (2021)
    Castle Falls
    • (produced by)
  • Dolph Lundgren in Hard Night Falling (2019)
    Hard Night Falling
  • Dolph Lundgren in Don't Kill It (2016)
    Don't Kill It
  • Dolph Lundgren, Bill Bellamy, Valencia Budijanto, and William Budijanto in Kindergarten Cop 2 (2016)
    Kindergarten Cop 2
  • Dolph Lundgren in Shark Lake (2015)
    Shark Lake
    • (produced by)
  • Dolph Lundgren, Ron Perlman, Peter Weller, Michael Jai White, Tony Jaa, and Celina Jade in Skin Trade (2014)
    Skin Trade
  • Dolph Lundgren and Cung Le in Puncture Wounds (2014)
    Puncture Wounds
  • Dolph Lundgren, Vinnie Jones, and Randy Couture in Ambushed (2013)
    Ambushed
  • Battle of the Damned (2013)
    Battle of the Damned
  • Stash House (2012)
    Stash House
  • Dolph Lundgren in Diamond Dogs (2007)
    Diamond Dogs
  • Dolph Lundgren in Pentathlon (1994)
    Pentathlon

Director

  • Wanted Man
    • Post-production
  • Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins in Castle Falls (2021)
    Castle Falls
  • Icarus (2010)
    Icarus
  • Dolph Lundgren and Melissa Molinaro in Command Performance (2009)
    Command Performance
  • Missionary Man (2007)
    Missionary Man
  • Dolph Lundgren in Diamond Dogs (2007)
    Diamond Dogs
    • (uncredited)
  • The Russian Specialist (2005)
    The Russian Specialist
  • Dolph Lundgren, Jerry Springer, Gerald Kyd, Thomas Lockyer, and Shakara Ledard in The Defender (2004)
    The Defender
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos111

The Expendables: "Basketball Fight"
Clip 0:55
The Expendables: "Basketball Fight"
The Expendables: "Smaller"
Clip 0:49
The Expendables: "Smaller"
DVD Clip: Escaping With the Girl
Clip 3:26
DVD Clip: Escaping With the Girl
Altitude
Clip 2:01
Altitude
Altitude
Clip 1:35
Altitude
Kindergarten Cop 2
Clip 0:46
Kindergarten Cop 2
Kindergarten Cop 2
Clip 0:52
Kindergarten Cop 2
Battle of the Damned
Clip 1:33
Battle of the Damned
Ambushed
Clip 0:52
Ambushed
Command Performance
Clip 2:39
Command Performance
Command Performance
Clip 1:35
Command Performance
I Come In Peace
Clip 1:58
I Come In Peace

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Cameo
    • Facebook
    • November 3, 1957
    • Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
    • February 27, 1994 - March 2011 (divorced, 2 children)
    • Ida Lundgren
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    Print ads: the Diamond Information Center's "The Man's Diamond: The Gift of Success" campaign.
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Print Biographies
    • 39 Interviews
    • 16 Articles
    • 5 Pictorials
    • 4 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Holds a master's degree in chemical engineering. Was offered a Fulbright scholarship to study at MIT.
  • Quotes
    [Arnold Schwarzenegger] is my role model since he is successful but, as an actor, he is not [my role model]. I prefer Sean Connery, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford. They, too, started as "beefcakes" but have since established themselves as acknowledged actors.
    • Spinning back kick
    • Retrograde
      (2004)
      $1,000,000

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